












THE FROGS O’ POOLO 











In the Spring, when nights are cool, 
Come, hear the froggies’ singing school. 


THE 

FROGS O’ POOLO 

OR 

Wonder Ways of Tiny Folks 

BY 

JOSHUA FREEMAN CROWELL 

ILLUSTRATIONS BY 

HAROLD SICHEL 



NEW YORK 

E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 

31 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET 


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Copyright, 1909 
BY 

E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 


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TO MY WIFE 

WHO GOES WITH ME THROUGH ALL THE 
WILDING WAYS, AND LISTENS TO THE 
FUNNY FOLK. 


Come , go with me the wilding ways, 

And hear what all the wee ones say ! 

Now gently tread, for near at hand, 

Is Little Nature s fairy-land. 

W hat ever way our steps may turn, 

A charming lesson we may learn; 

The wilding wee one s song, my dear, 

Is, — “ Sun or rain, good cheer , good cheer!” 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 


I The Frogs o’ Poolo 
II Barney Barnacle 

III The Spi Spiders 

IV Cheerful Chippie and Happy Chappie 
V The Ants of Antic 

VI Harry Crab and Carrie Crab 
VII The Bees of Bumbleton 
VIII The Toads of Hoppiti-High 
IX The Bugs of Bugly 
X Lulia and Lelia Lobster 
XI Ninny, Nanny and Natty 
XII The Swans 

XIII Spink Hoppie 

XIV Tula of Turtledom 





THE FROGS O’ POOLO 


In the spring, when nights are cool, 
Come, hear the froggies’ singing school. 



THE FROGS O POO LO 

Part 1. 





ALLY WOG and Polly Wog were little brother 
and sister tadpoles! As they darted and wiggled 
about, they looked like tiny fishes, but in their 
little wog hearts, they knew they were going to 
be frogs, and they hoped it would be soon. 

Said Wally Wog, “When we grow to full-size frogs, let’s 
put on the finest togs, and sit around on water-logs.” 

And Polly Wog agreed with Wally, that it would be ex- 
tremely jolly. 

They lived alone in Pool-o-ette, which is a tiny little pool, 
only separated from Poolo by a log. On the bright sunny days, 
Polly and Wally swam round and round, frisked up and down, and 
wiggled back and forth thro’ Pool-o-ette. 

’Twas very good of Mr. Sun to come and warm the water for 
their fun, but Mrs. Night they did not like, and when she came, 
they huddled close together in their little dark mud bed, and lis- 
tened to the chorus over in Poolo singing “Peep! Peep! kind watch 
we’ll keep.” It cheered them so they always went to sleep. 

On the dark chilly days, they did not frisk about, but missed 
the sun, and wished he would come out. And every day, they hoped 
the next would let them go to Poolo, but, altho’ they tried a 


14 The Frogs o’ Poolo 

hundred times, they could never get upon the log. 
“Oh!”said Wally, “if my front feetwould only grow!” 

They did! They grew apace, in their proper 
place. One day Wally’s feet had grown so strong, he 
could climb upon the log, and as he sat there in the 
sun, he talked to Polly Wog. 

“Oh! Polly dear. 

Now that I’m here, 

I feel so queer, 

I think I must be in a fit! 

Oh! how my little head does split! 

My hind-er feet are coming out; 

I hardly know what I’m about; 

I’ve lost my tail, I don’t know where, 

And furthermore, I do not care! 

Now I’m standing on the log, 

And I really feel just — like a frog! 

I have four legs; I’m dressed in green; 

I’m the handsomest frog that ever 
was seen!!!” 

Polly was listening intently; with her 
mouth open wide, she drank in every word, and 
also, quite a little water. When Wally finished, 

Polly was very melancholy. She could not get 
upon the log, and she could not see 
her Wally; all she could do was to 
utter wog sobs, nine or eleven to 
the minute. There was nothing mi- 
nute about the sobs, however, and 
they soon grew into good-sized 
bawls. 



The Frogs o’ Poolo 15 

Now Wally was feeling jolly, but when he heard Polly getting 
bawly, and even squally, he exclaimed, “What folly!” You see, 
now that Wally was a frog, he wanted to go immediately to Poolo 



and join the other frogs; it was a great disappointment to him to 
have to go back to Pool-o-ette and comfort his little baby sister. But, 
altho’ he was only a little boy frog, the kindness of his heart was 
great, so back to Polly Wog he went, and took her by the hand 
(foot), and led her to her little mud hall bedroom. 

Then the sobs, and bawls, and squalls 
Away with the little wog woes, went, 

And dear little sister Polly was content. 

Night happened to come along, soon after, and found Polly 
full of wog laughter. 



Frogs o’ Poolo 

But Wally knew 
’T would never do, 

To let her know 
He’d planned to go, 

So, all he said 
Was, — “Go to bed,” 

And Polly went 
As soon as sent. 

Then Wally tried to sing his little 
friend to sleep, — but all the tune he 
knew was peep! peep! peep!! — and> 
instead of singing her, he sang him- 
self to sleep! 

Polly was so excited at what 
happened to Wally, she could not shut 
her eyes. She wanted so much to catch up 
with him that she puzzled her little brain 
with all kinds of plans for making her feet 
grow. 

Soon midnight came and with it, — 
“It,” — the ghost!!! 

The wog ghost, floating silently and 
mysteriously thro’ the water, like the tail of 
a comet, or the tail of a wog in a fog. 

Polly saw it and trembled with fright. 
She struck a phosphorescent light, and wak- 
ened Wally who was not a bit afraid, but 
grabbed the ghost and held it tight, — and 
strange to say, it turned out to be the very 
caudal appendage he had cast away, that very 
day. Said Wally, — 


Frogs o’ Poolo 17 

“Now, Polly, 

You must never be afraid 
Of any ghost whatever. 

For, almost always, they are fog, 

Or some other kind of weather; 

Or, often trash that’s left around, 

Like this old piece of Wog. 

Take my advice, and go to sleep, 

And grow to be a FROG!” 

PART II 

When the glorious crimson dawn of the bright new day had 
awakened the lively little breezes, they went to Pool-o-ette and made 
cunning ripples and tiny rainbows play upon the surface of the 
water. Polly opened her eyes, felt of her feet, found they were 
grown, opened her door softly so as not to arouse Wally, left her 
home, and climbed upon the log. She was still Polly Wog. 

Then the log gave a jog 
And Polly lost her wog; 

Then the log began to jiggle 
And she became a porwiggle; 

Then the log got very jiggy 
Ah! now she was a purwiggy; 

Then the log with a final jog 
Changed little Polly to a frog! 

Wally now appeared upon the log, and the two stood up to- 
gether and bowed a pretty froggy bow to say good bye to Pool-o- 
ette. Then they turned and bowed another bow which seemed to 
say, “Oh! Poolo, kindly welcome us to-day.” Old Poolo’s face was 
full of smiles and ripples, as the little new ones jumped into his 
breast. He took them to the swimming-school and introduced them 


18 Frogs o’ Poolo 

to the rest, and put them in the Primer class to do their very best. 
Mr. Solomon Frog was the teacher and everything he wanted done, 
he showed them how to do. The class of jumping came at nine 
and how they hopped about! 

Mr. Solomon was so spry, that when he jumped, he jumped 
so high, he nearly bumped against the sky, — and knocked a few 
stars out. Then all the class of little frogs skipped, and jumped, 
and hopped about. Wally did the best he could, which wasn’t ex- 
tra, O. K. good. 

The class in diving came at ten, — and then, — Mr. Solomon 
took a dive, — and such a dive ! I wonder he came up alive, but he 
did. All the class dove in pell mell. What Polly did, she couldn’t 
tell, but she liked it, — pretty well. 

At eleven, came the swimming class. Poor little Wally stood 
aghast, for Mr. Solomon swam so fast, he left his body way behind, 
and went on swimming, in his mind! 

At twelve, the school was over for the day, with nothing else 
to do, but eat and play. There were no cooks in Poolo, and no 
meals were served, so Polly and Wally had to hunt around and 
catch a dinner. There was one big boy frog, named All Agog, who 



had big, bulging eyes, and wore a buff and green jacket. He was 
very kind, and showed Wally and Polly the best fishing, (I mean 
lunching) places, and talked to them of the dangers lurking about. 


Frogs o’ Poolo 19 

“As long as you keep in Poolo,” he said, “you are safe. Of course 
you must not go to the very bottom of the pool, because of the 
Bull Frog, and you must not go near the bank, because of the Bull 
Dog. At singing school, you will be taught a tender and touching 
College song, as a reminder. Y ou can get upon the log if you look 
out for Gog and Magog. Don’t go over into the bog when the 
horrible dragon flies about.” 

Polly and Wally thanked All Agog, and stayed in Poolo, play- 
ing leap-frog. But before long, Wally began to wish he knew how 
that bog looked, and he said to Polly, “When I was a Wog, I 
wanted to be a Frog. When I was in Pool-o-ette, I wanted to be in 
Poolo. Now that I’m here, I wish I was on that bog. Let’s go.” 
He went at once. What could Polly do but follow? 

It was very pleasant on the bog, so brown and green, with 
here and there a bush, or flower. The little ones enjoyed it very 
much, hopping and looking at new and strange objedts. They played 
“hide and seek” under the wild vines, and paddled their feet in 
the puddles. 

All at once a great stout stick, like the trunk of a tree, it 
seemed to them, planted itself very near. Wally looked up. “The 
branches are all at the top, I’m going to climb it.” “Come away,” 
said Polly, “maybe it’s one of those dangers All Ago g told about!” 
“ Pooh ! and pooh again ! ” said Wally. At that very instant, the top of 
the tree seemed to spread, and a great head on a long neck darted out, 
a stout bill opened, and Wally was caught by his left hind leg. 

The tree proved to be the Quonk. It flapped its wings and 
flew away, bearing Wally to its nest, as a dinner for its little birds. 
Poor Polly sat upon the bog, and shed a tear or two. What else 
could she do? 


20 


Frogs o’ Poolo 

PART III 


Wally was in a sad plight, and he knew it. How he wished 
he had stayed in Poolo, or minded Polly! As he was carried along 



ly to fall. Something warned him to watch the feather. Soon the 
great bird dropped thro’ the air; the feather was out and dropping 
too, -it was coming nearer, nearer; it touched his nose; he grabbed 
it and shut his jaws very tight. 

At the moment, he saw an ugly mouth below him, stretched 
open wide to swallow him. Down into the horrible mouth he went, 


Frogs o’ Poolo 2 1 

but he clung to the feather which went in crosswise, and the young 
Quonk could not shut his bill together, or swallow. The creature 
got very angry and fumbled and tumbled about the nest, and at 
last, fell over the edge, head foremost. Wally and the feather were 
spilled into the mud. 

Our hero lost no time, but left the feather and went right 
down to the bottom of the mud. He was so frightened, he would 
have gone on down, thro’ the earth to Australia, if the mud had 
been willing, but it was not. When Mud thought Wally had gone 
far enough, it squeezed him and held him tight. This was another 
plight, but a sight better plight than the other. Said Wally, “This 
is out of sight!” He was right. 

Poor Polly, left alone, 

Could only mope and moan, 

But e’er an hour passed by. 

She cried her eyes quite dry. 

And felt a good deal better, 

Altho’ she was much wetter; 

But she wouldn’t let that fret her, 

And started for her home. 

As she had no idea which direction to take, she took them all. 
At the end of an hour, she had hopped a figure like this. 



She could see her little tracks in the mud and she thought them 


22 Frogs o’ Poolo 

very pretty, so she hopped another hour, and invented another 
figure which she admired more. She said, “I think they are very 
artistic, especially the last. 



For a long time I have been hoping I should be a great 
artist some day, and now I’m hopping to be.” 

She was so pleased and interested, that she never noticed she 
always came back to the starting point, and that night was coming 
on. She had just started on her third and prettiest hop when Night 
came up close and whispered in her ear, “Find Poolo quickly, for 
old Mrs. Howl Owl is out!” 

Just then, way off in the distance, the chorus began to tune 
their voices and Polly knew where Poolo was. This time, she 
hopped a straight line. Darker and darker it grew, faster and faster 
she hopped, nearer and nearer sounded the chorus. 

“I’m most home,” she cried, — but suddenly, right before her 
on the bank, loomed up the terrible figure of old Mrs. Howl Owl. 

“Who? Who?” “I’m Polly, let me go by, please!” “Noo! 
Noo!” “I will go by,” said spunky Polly. “Hoo! Hoo!” laughed 
old Mrs. Howl Owl, in derision. But Polly was a determined little 
frog, and she meant to have her way and her say, and not to be 
hooted down by any owl or other fowl. 


2 3 


Frogs o’ Poolo 

“You think you are so very wise 
Because you have such great big eyes, 
But the truth is, I surmise, 

You’re nothing but a stupid bird, 
Your boasted wisdom is absurd.” 

So saying, Polly hopped right by, 

And never even winked an eye, 

And Mrs. Owl was so surprised, — 

To be so flouted at, thuswise. 

She never stirred nor uttered word, 
Till Polly reached the pool, 

And joined the swimming-school. 
Then Mrs. Owl in haste arose, 

And to a lonely tree she flew. 

Then, with her claw, she scratched 
her nose. 

And to herself she muttered, — 
“Whew! ! ” 

PART I V 

Meantime Wally was being hugged 
by Mud, and altho’ he squirmed and 
wiggled and thrashed around, he could 
not free himself. At last he said, “Please 
let me go?” Said Mud, “Why so?” 
Then Wally told his story and Mud was so interested that he 
agreed to help Wally find his home. “Not on your account,” said 
Mud, “for I think you did wrong in the first place to entice your 
little sister into danger, but because I want to help her , I am now 
going to aid you to return. Promise me that you will find her, and 
lead her home?” And Wally promised solemnly. Then Mud said, 
“Just do exactly what I say, and you’ll be home this very day.” 



24 Frogs o’ Poolo 

Presently, a bony leg appeared in the mud. Wally was instructed 
to cling to it upside down; then he was plastered all over with mud, 
except one eye. Soon, the leg arose and Wally found he was being 
carried thro’ the air by the same Quonk, but safely this time be- 
cause he was so well disguised. 

With his unmuddy eye, he saw the sky and the earth pass by. 
He had a good frog’s-eye-view of a bird’s-eye-view of the view, 
and enjoyed it, too. He saw the sea, and by the sea, he saw a saw, 
and a sea-saw too. He saw the piney woods so green, and then, a 
tiny pond so blue. 


At last, he saw the bog he knew. 
But no Polly was in view. 

And then Poolo came in sight, 
Just as it was growing night, 

And Wally knew 
Just what to do, 

And did it, too. 


He dropped, mud and all into Poolo, and was washed and saved 
at the same time. 

All were glad to 
see him. Mr. Solomon 
shook one hand, (front 
foot), and All Agog 
the other, — and Polly 
hugged him round the 
neck, and called him_ 

“darling brother”. It 
so happened that Pol- 
ly had only reached 
home a few minutes 
before Wally, and Mr. 





Frogs o’ Poolo 25 

Solomon proposed that the assembled crowd should listen to the 
adventures of each. 

Polly began, and her tale won much applause. Then Wally 
followed, but all agreed that Polly had been truly heroic, while 
Wally had been adventurous, but not chivalrous. When Mr. Solo- 
mon led poor little modest Polly around the place to receive the 
kind congratulations, she nearly fainted from shyness, — and when 
the chorus struck up “See the Conquering (S)Hero Comes,” little 
Polly “ kerflummuxed ! ” 

They gave her mint to smell, 

(And internally as well), 

And soon she was restored, 

But Wally was ignored. 

The singing-school began. 

The sopranos and the basses 
Took their respective places, 

And wore expectant faces. 

Then Signor Squall-the-Most 
Stood at the leader’s post, 

To conduCt the songful host. 

He had no pitch to give them 
For sticking to the tune, 

So each one took the time 
That he or she liked best. 

And paid no heed whatever, 

To any of the rest. 

Now, Signor Squall-the-Most 
Had made a little boast, 

That he could beat all time; 

So, he waved his arms and hands, 

And he shook his head and neck. 

And he danced his legs and feet. 




2 6 


Frogs o’ Poolo 

But the chorus sang so fast, 

That they left him far behind, 

So he relapsed, and then collapsed, 

And had prostration of the mind. 

They stopped their singing long enough to get him out of sight, 
And then they chose a substitute, to lead them for the night. 
Soon the scale was tried, 

And “do” went very well, 

But some got stuck on “re,” 

And stayed there for a spell. 

All were very fond of “mi,” 

Why, I cannot tell; 

Some could not go so far as “fa,” 

Others put their souls in “sol,” 

And no one wanted “la.” 

But when they had climbed up that far, 

’Twas easy to “si” “do!” 

Then solos were called for, and Fair Fatima sang “Soft and low” 
very high and slow, and Fatty Puff sang “High! Ho!” very fast 
and low. Polly was much interested, and remarked, “How very 
strange it was, that a “Soft and low” solo should be so high, and 
a “High! Ho!” solo, so low. 

The night was now far spent, and the final chorus beginning,— 
when — suddenly — tap — tap — tap — , someone knocked at Poolo’s 
door. All were still, and a chill of coming ill was in the air. 

Said Mr. Solomon, “Who’s there?” 

“I, Jack Frost,” said a crisp voice. 

“What do you want?” 

“Somebody to come out and be nipped.” 

All shuddered, and All Agog exclaimed, “I call that pretty 
cool!” 

“Well,” said Mr. Frost, “If no one comes out, I can congeal 


Frogs o’ Poolo 27 

the whole pool, and give you all a dose of bitten noses and toeses, 
but if one of your number is heroic enongh to come out on the 
bank and tussle with me. I’ll let the rest of you alone.” 

All the frogs of Poolo looked into each others faces, but there 
seemed to be no one ready to volunteer for such a deed. 

No one? Ah! yes! — one Wally!! 

PART V 


’Twas a calm, still, beautiful, moonlit night. The landscape was 
hidden away in deep, soft shadows, fast asleep. No breezes swayed 
the trees, because the breezes were asleep. No noises of inserts or 
of beasts, or men, were heard in the land, for all were fast asleep. 
All Poolo, even, had gone to sleep, except Wally who was wide 
awake. Upon the bank he stood, and waited for Mr. Frost to put 
on his glittering armor. “ If I can only dodge about when he comes 
on,” said Wally to himself, “perhaps he cannot hit me very hard. 
He’s coming now! How his armor glistens in the moonlight! It 
must be silver! No, as I live, it’s ice, and his long plume is snow!! 
I think I’m getting scared! I think every hair on my head would 
rise, if I had any hair ! My back has chilly 
creeps, my knees are knocking together, 
— my heart is thumping, — my teeth are 
chattering, and I can hardly breathe!!! 
He comes! Oh! He comes! Ah! I will 



meet him!” 

So saying. 


Wally rushed into the 
fight and struck at 
Mr. Frost with 
left and right, and 





28 


The Frogs o’ Poolo 

kicked and jumped about, with all his might. But Mr. Frost grabbed 
Wally’s toe and held on tight. At the same time, he gave his nose 
a little bite. (It hurt poor Wally so, he nearly screamed outright). 
But our hero would not give up for any pain, and he just went for 
Mr. Frost again. 

I know not what the end of this terrible fight might have 
shown, had not a strange thing happened in the nick of time. Pol- 
ly had retired, but had not slept. Anxious fears for brother filled 
her little breast, so cautiously upon the bank she crept, and saw 
that Wally was hard pressed. 

She snatched a passing moonbeam 
That was both sharp and bright. 

And pressed it into Wally’s hand, 

And cheered him to the fight. 

Our hero gave his sister. 

One brave and loving look, 

Then raised aloft the moonbeam. 

And deadly aim he took. 

Frost’s arm was shattered, 

His armor tattered. 

His head was battered, 

His senses scattered. 

As he lay upon the ground, nearly dead, Polly came to dress his 
wounds and said, — If you do get well, and I hope you will, — why 
don’t you do good, and never more do ill?” 

Instead of nipping noses. 

Freezing ears, and biting toeses, 

You ought to do your duty, 

By adding to earth’s beauty. 

Think of all the window-panes 
You might decorate! 

And, by taking little pains. 


2 9 


The Frogs o’ Poolo 

Make them quite ornate! 

You could be-jewel all the grass, 

And color maple trees, — 

Oh! think of all the glorious tints 
That you could paint the leaves! 

If you should need designs. 

Or some artistic plans. 

To carry out your work, 

Til help you all I can. 

For I am quite artistic. 

And I could hop around, 

And do some fine designs 
Upon the muddy ground.” 

Jack Frost took Polly’s words to cherish in his heart, and just 
as soon as he got well, he played a better part. 

Brave little Wally, go back to Poolo now. You must grow 
and grow, and some day, you may be Professor Wallace Frog, and 
teach the swimming-school. 

And Polly, dear little Polly, you are such a spunky frog, — 
perhaps when you grow up, you will teach the singing-school, — 
or, if your talents turn another way, your card may read,— 


Miss Mary Frog 


ARTISTIC HOPPING 






BARNEY BARNACLE 


Out on the wide, wide sea, afloat, — 
On the bottom side of a big, big boat! 






^JARNEY BARNACLE wanted to go to sea on 
the bottom of a vessel and see the Sea-lion and the 
Sea-bear and all the wonderful sea sights that his 
Uncle Buncle Barnacle had seen. He was tired of 
living in the harbor altho’ he was born and brought 
up on an old wharf log and was, in a way, attached to it. His back 
was getting so sticky he knew he should soon be fastened for life 
to the log, like all the old Barnacles around him. 

One day a big ship came close to Barney’s home, and he im- 
mediately left his log and friends and stuck himself as tight as he 
could to a vacant spot on the starboard side. The old Barnacles 
around leered at him and jeered at him. 

One told him to go back home, and another called him a 
goose. Now Barney was not a Goose Barnacle, he belonged to the 
very old and famous family of Cirraped Crustaceans, and he dis- 
liked being called names; so he never answered a word, but stuck 
the harder. He would show those old fellows what he could do. 

Soon the ship started and Barney was happy. It was such fun 
to be moved so gently thro’ the soft warm water, and it was so easy 
to stick. And above all, there was so much to see in the sea. Here 
was a Sea-purse to pick up, and the Sea-poker to poke the sea with; 
He could see a Sea-hen sitting on Sea-eggs, and here and there a 
Sea-bug, or a Sea-butterfly, and a Sea-cat and a Sea-dog having a 
sea spat! 

It was all so new that Barney hardly noticed they were going 


34 Barney Barnacle 

so much faster now, but he soon found he had no time to see any- 
thing because he had to hold on with all his might. The water 
now rushed past, and nearly brushed him off. It was more 
than he could bear. “Oh! ship!” he cried, “Oh! good, 
kind ship, please stop, or go a little slower!” 

The ship never heeded, but rushed on faster than 
ever. I think it was a kind ship at heart, but I don’t be- 
lieve it heard little Barney at all, or even knew he was 
there. Poor little fellow! 

His little stick was tired and would not stick any 
more; he gave a final cry of despair, and was slipping 
off into the wild, cruel sea, when something happened. 
He felt himself grasped and held firmly! He was saved! 
It was Uncle Buncle who had heard his cry, and at the 
risk of his own life, had come to the rescue. 

Barney was safe now, and Uncle Buncle was so 
strong and so kind, that while he held his little nephew 
he gave him some useful advice, and showed him how 
to live in the sea and enjoy it. Barney soon learned, and 
became very happy again. He saw all the wonderful 
animals of the sea, — the Sea-elephant, traveling without 
his trunk, the Sea-lion, without a mane, and the Sea-bear 
J that is a real bear. He saw the Sea-ape that cannot climb, 
and the Sea-calf that is not the child of the Sea-cow. 
The Sea-pig is much too big to live in a Sea-pen. The 
Sea-horse he did not see. 



ft 


:> 


:N-, 


Barney Barnacle 3 5 

There was always plenty to eat, for the sea has its apple, its 
orange, lettuce, cabbage and bean, and its cucumber, which is a 
fish, and its corn, which is a roe. The Sea-lemon is not bad, and, 
as for Sea-jelly, — the ocean is full of it. 

Uncle Buncle showed Barney what to eat, but his favorite 
drink was sea water. All he had to do was to open his mouth, and 
it just poured in. so nice and salt. It made him so thirsty, he drank 
all the time. 

One day it came! ! ! 


Yes, the Sea-quake! 

How the old ship did shake! 

Now the bow was under. 

Now, the rudder 

Boom! Boom! sound the waves, 

Dashing o’er the Boomkins! 

How the wind sings! 

How the welkin rings! 

Lash! crash! a fight ’tween ship and wave. 

Cut away the mast, the ship to save! 

Uncle Buncle told Barney it was the worst Sea- 
quake he had ever seen, but the rest of the voyage was 
balmy, almost too balmy for Barney. 


Larboard Watch! Ship ahoy! Sang 
out the old Bell Buoy! 

“Shipmate,” said Uncle Buncle, 
“your first voyage is over. You’re a full- 
fledged sailor now. You’ve tasted the salt 
and I pronounce you sea-worthy!” 



36 Barney Barnacle 

“I know,” said Barney, as he drew himself cozily within his 
little shell home, “ I feel that I am very fond of this life, and as 
for this ship, I am already so much attached to it, that I shall 
never leave it! Never!” 


/ 



SPI SPIDERS 


Thrifty spiders, Good providers, — 
Web abiders, Cunning hiders. 






EARLY grey and silken was the Spi home; it was 
truly a palace among webs. Little Hanki Panki Spi 
thought so, and he ought to know. High upon the 
beach-plum bush it was placed. From it the view 
was fine; on one side, you could look out on the 
marshes; from the other side, out upon the creek. It was very spa- 
cious, with many large apartments, and had little corners tucked 
away under leaves, and many secret passages. But it was all made 
of web; — walls, floors, furniture, — all web. 


It was July. Grand- 
father Zimri Spi had 
gone up high to spy 
for a fly. With his 
spy-glass at his eye, 
he would sit for 
hours, and watch the 
sky. 

Mother Annette 
Emma was making 
balls of the little Spi 
babies. This is how 
she did it. She made 
a little cradle of web, 
then she took a handful of children and put them in and covered 
them over with some more web. She kept doing this until she had 
a ball as big as herself. To finish the job, she put 37 blankets of 
web all around the outside, and sewed it up tight. 

Hanki Panki was dancing all over the web; in here, out there, 




40 The Spi Spiders 

over this strong web, under this weak one. Snap! — a strand broke! 
Did Hanki Panki Spi fall? Oh! my! — no! Before you could think, 
he had taken some new web out of the coil in his pocket and mended 
the break. He danced up to the high look-out. “Let me spy for a 
fly,” said Hanki. “No,” said Grandpa, “don’t bother, run away 
and play.” He pranced down to the nursery. “Let me make webby 
balls, or bally webs,” said Panki. “No,” said Mother, “don’t bother, 
run away and play.” 

Sad was Hanki, sad was Panki, very sad was Hanki Panki Spi. 
“No one wants me,” he said, “I don’t want to play, — I’ve played 
all day.” 

Suddenly, the palace shook tremendously! It was a big jolly 
fly, and he was caught in the pearly grey web, but he was so strong, 
he would soon get away. Hanki never stopped to think how little 
he was, but just rushed at Mr. Fly. “I’ll hold him,” he cried, — 
“Grandpa, come quick, he’s getting away.” Grandpa Zimri Spi 
dropped his spy-glass and ran. Mamma Annette Emma Spi let her 
webby balls of babies lie, and ran. 

But all too late! 

Sad to relate, — 

Their little son and grandson, 

Hanki Panki Spi, 

Held on so tight, 

With all his might. 

That he arose with Mr. Fly, 

And soon was lost to sight!!! 

PART II 

Hanki was plucky. He held on to Mr. Fly with seven legs, 
and with the other leg, got his coil of web ready in case anything 
should happen. Mr. Fly was frisky, also risky; he flew here and flew 
there; he did not seem to know where he wanted to go, nor when 


4 1 



The Spi Spiders 

he got, where he wanted to get; but at last he bumped against some- 
thing hard, and stopped suddenly. Hanki at once let Mr. Fly go. 

(he did not wish to 
try to hold him long- 
er) — and found him- 
self on the tip-top of 
the spire of the high- 
est church steeple in 
the country. 

The first thing 
Hanki did was to see 
if he could get any 
higher, but, as he 
could not, he deter- 
mined to go down to 
the ground. It was a long journey, and very slippery; at times, he 
was obliged to let out a little of his web, and swing over a precipice, 
with no idea of where he would land. But there was always some- 
thing to bump against, after a swing or two. 

He went on and on, down, down, ever down; his little feet 
grew tired, his little coil of web got snarled, but still he kept on, 
down, down! “Oh!”he cried, “how I wish I was way down, as far 
down as down is!” He was! It was the ground! “I am so glad I am 
down,” said Hanki, “I am not tired any more. I will now go up 
again.” And he did. 

Meanwhile, the old folks at home were very anxious. Grand- 
father Zimri Spi sat in his turret high, and in spite of a tear in his 
eye, kept his spy-glass on the sky, looking for a sign of the fly that 
carried Hanki up so high. 

Mamma Annette was crying; with her spider tears, she had 
wet 93 beautiful cobwebby lace handkerchiefs. “If I cry any more,” 
she said, “I shall have to make handkerchiefs as fast as I need them.” 


42 The Spi Spiders 

She did. She tore up the stairs, and made two pairs, she tore up the 
floor, and made a score, and cried that more. 

Then she stopped crying. Then she smiled. “I will go and 
find my darling child. Come, Father Zimri, about the world we’ll 
roam, until we find my precious one and bring him home!” 



Hanki was nearing the top of the steeple again. He curled 
himself up cozily in a knot-hole, intending to rest a little while. 
In was sunset, and Hanki admired it very much. “Purple and yellow 
mixed are my favorites,” he cried, “and as for that old, fat, red sun, 
— he glitters so you can’t look him square in the face, to see whether 
he is pretty or not. I wish he would stop those glitters for just one 
minute!” At that instant, the distant landscape walked up over the 
smiling sun, and put him out. Then night came and Hanki slept 
his little sleep. 

It rained. The rain swelled the wood; the knot-hole grew 
smaller, — still our hero slept. At last, morning came, the rain stopped, 
the sun came up and Hanki awakened. “What has happened?”he 
cried, — “ I must have grown big in the night, and now I fit so tight. 
I’m really in a plight. Help! help! will some one please come and 
shrink me?” No one came. 

Again he called. “Oh! Mr. Sun, I made fun of you last night, 


The Spi Spiders 43 

forgive me and help.” Mr. Sun seemed to hear, for he turned his 
kind face toward Hanki, and with warm smiles, dried the steeple, 
and the knot-hole grew large again. Hanki walked out. “Thank 
you, Mr. Sun,” he said “glitter all you want to, and don’t mind 
what I said last night.” Then the sun glittered an extra cunning 
little ‘glit’ just for Hanki, and went on his way, 
making a nice day. 

Just above the knot-hole was a very smooth 
and slippery edge, and Hanki almost lost his foot- 
ing. All his feet slipped off but about one ninth 
of one foot, and that was just starting to slip, when 
suddenly he saw two tiny bright eyes peering 
down upon him from above, — and then, two little 
feet came over the edge and pulled him up, and 
\hewas saved! Hanki found himself in the part of 
the steeple where the big sounder, Mr. Bell lives. 
His rescuer was just a dear little fat, downy spider. 

“Thank you very much,” said Hanki, “you 
saved my life. What’s your name?” “Eliphalet Spi,” 
said the other, — “they call me Eli, for short.” 
“My name’s Spi,” said Hanki, “we must be rela- 
tives; perhaps we are cousins.” They were. They 
found out afterwards. Eliphalet took Hanki to his 
home, a beautiful web palace under the bell. Eli- 
' phalet’s mother, Mrs. Annabel Isabel, welcomed 

him and introduced her three daughters, — Mirabel Bella, Arabella 
Ting-a-ling, and Belinda Blue Bell. She then showed him the baby, 
named Tintinnabulation Bell. “Our last name is Spi,” she said pri- 
vately to Hanki, “but we don’t wear it every day; — we keep it locked 
up in a glass case, and look at it once in a while, so as not to forget. 
I ought to explain that we have lived here so long, and heard that 
bell so much, we couldn’t help getting it into our names. Now 



44 The Spi Spiders 

children, go away and play with your new little friend until dinner 
time.” 

Tintinnabulation Bell was too little to play, 

So, they put her in a shell, 

And they rocked her for a spell. 

Until into a sleep she fell, — 

And then they ran away! 

PART IV 

Hanki and his little Spi cousins played a nice game. They 
called it “I spy.” First, they all stood in line and were counted out 
by repeating, — 

Sion, slon, a slider’s slon, 

Sowm a sil and a slipsy slon, 

A slon is new and a sil will do, 

But a slipsy slidings, out with you! 

After the counting, Eliphalet was left, so he was “It.” He went up 
to the corner of a shingle, covered his eyes with, — well, he covered 
his eyes, never mind what with, and counted seven, while the others 
hid. They were such cunning spiders, — they were very quick hiders, 
— and before seven was done, — all were hidden but one. Mirabel 
Bella hid in the cellar; — Belinda Blue Bell, down in the well; — 
Hanki Pank got under a plank, — but Arabella Ting-a-ling couldn’t 
find a single thing. Poor thing, she got caught! Then she had to 
cover her eyes, and count. They played this game until dinner-time. 

At dinner, although Mrs. Annabel Isabel was very kind and 
and the flank of fly pie was very inviting, Hanki couldn’t eat. He 
was homesick; but he was too polite to say anything about it. 

Suddenly, Mrs. Annabel Isabel, and Arabella Ting-a-ling, and 
Mirabel Bella, and Belinda Blue Bell, and Eliphalet, all covered 
their ears. 

Roar! whang!!! JANG — Kelang — ang — ng ! ! ! ! ! 


The Spi Spiders 45 

It was the bell ! The steeple rocked, the web shook, the table thumped 
and all the dishes cracked. It was fearful! Poor Hanki was nearly 
frightened to spidereens. He took out the end of his web and started 
for the ground, but Eliphalet held on to him, and would not let 
him go, and then the sound stopped. 

“It’s nothing,” said Eliphalet, “when you get used to it, and 
it does not happen very often. Of course Sundays are the worst days, 
and tho’ it’s so very terrible to us, I’ve been told it does great good 
in the land.” 

“ I think I should like it better if Mamma and Grandpa were 
here too,” said Hanki “I think I ought to go home before it sounds 
again, — they must be very anxious about me.” 

Knock! knock!! “Someone is at the front door!” cried Eliphalet. 
They opened it. In walked Mamma Annetta Emma Spi, and Grand- 
father Zimri Spi! How happy they all were! 

How did you ever find me?” said Hanki. Mamma Annette 
Emma Spi smiled. “Mothers have ways,” she said, “but now you 
are found, we must all go home at once. I am anxious about my 
baby balls.” 

Then Eliphalet had a fitlet; he was too good and cunning to 
have a big, grown-up, naughty fit, so he just had a little baby fit, 
or fitlet. The reason was, he did not want Hanki to go. But they 
soon made a nice plan. Eliphalet was to go home with Hanki and 
make a little visit. He did. 

But before he went, his mother called him to her side, and said. 


'Eliphalet, 

My petlet. 

Don’t forget 
To write a notelet. 
Just to let 
Me know you get 


There safely. — 
Don’t get wet.” 

Said Eliphalet, — 
Tear Mother, — 
Don’t you fret.’ 


4 6 


The Spi Spiders 

PART V 

It was a long, long journey home. Grandpa Zimri led the way be- 
cause he was so very old and wise. Hanki kept Eliphalet close to 
him, and helped him over the big stones. Once, he looked behind 
and said, “Mamma Annette, you are bringing up the rear,-that’s 
clear. That’s very queer, for you are bringing me up, too, I fear.” 
Said Mamma Annette, “You are a dear.” 

Hanki wanted to measure the distance they had to go, so he 
counted his steps, and, at every seven, (which was as high as he 
could count,) put a chip in his pocket. He soon filled all his pockets. 
He filled all Eli’s also, and before they reached home, he filled all 
Grandpa’s pockets, and Mamma’s apron. As soon as they were safely 
home in the beach-plum bush. Grandpa Zimri counted the chips 
and there were 7777. “ Enough to kindle fire all winter,” said Hanki. 
“But spiders don’t use fires,” said Eli. “True,” replied Hank, “but 
we have the kindlings, all the same. Let’s play.” He was thinking 
of something to play, but night came. It is strange how night al- 
ways comes so quickly when little chaps are just going to play 
something ! 

Then the stars began to twinkle, 

And they started for a winkle 
Of good, healthy, downy sleep; 

But when each had on his nighty. 

Had to have a pillow fighty. 

After that they slept so tighty. 

They never heard the froggies peep. 

In the night, came the wind, and shook the Spi Palace. Now, 
it so happened, that the room where the two little Spis slept, was 
in the web ell, right over the creek, and, although the bed was 
very snug, and the two were well tucked in, the wind was such a 
rough, rude fellow, that he came into their room and pushed little 


The Spi Spiders 

Eli right out of bed, on to the floor. The floor was so 
weak, it sagged with a squeak, and Eli went through, 
into the creek! 

In the water he struggled. 

He “gurgled and guggled,” 

But, by Hank, ere he sank, 

To the bank he was luggled. 

Eli was not hurt a bit. He had a dry rub, a cup of 
pepper-grass tea, and went to bed again. 

Hank tucked him in tight, 

Then he mended the floor, 

And he fastened the door. 

And blew out the light,* 

Got into bed once more. 

And began to snore. 

PART VI 

Hanki and Eli had such good times! 

They were so busy doing useful / 

K Note. This was not a light such / 

as we use, but a fire-fly in a little - 

cage, and to put it out, Hank 
opened the cage 
fire-fly flew ! 





48 The Spi Spiders 

things, and playing, too. Hanki taught Eli how to make and mend 
web, and Grandpa Zimri taught them both how to fly kites. If you 
are a spider, you just stand up on something high, a bush will do, 
take out a loop of web, fasten a leaf securely in the loop, and let 
the wind take it; then you carefully unwind your roll in your pocket, 
until the leaf flutters far away and curls the web around some dis- 
tant bush. Then you fasten your end and try it with your feet, and 
if it is firm, you can run across and fasten the other end, and you 
have a perfedt bridge. You can do all this, if you are a spider! 
Hanki did it well, and Eli did it quite well. Grandpa Zimri did 
it best of all. 

Grandpa was kind to the two little Spis, and showed them 
many useful and pleasant plays. Every day, he took them up to his 
turret high, and let them spy. Hanki would shut one eye and take 
a spy, then pass the glass to Eli, and let him try, — while Grandpa 
Zimri stood by, and smiled at the sky. 

Another game they were fond of playing was “hide and seek.” 
Eli would roll himself up in a leaf, while Hanki shut his eyes, 
then Eli would say “Ready,” and Hanki would look into almost 
every leaf but the right one; but Eli couldn’t keep still very long, 
and would have wiggles, and the leaf he was in would have jiggles, 
and show Hanki where he was. ’Twas such fun!!! 

Then they had races. Hanki was lanky, and could have beaten 
every time, but often he held back, so that fat little Eli could 
catch up and go by. 

Sometimes they made boats of chips, with sails of leaves, and 
watched them go floating slowly down the creek, out of sight. 

But days of fun will end at last, and Eli’s visit went so fast, 
there came a day when it was past. 

The day of his leaving, Came in, in a fret, And said, — 

Poor Hanki was grieving, “All my ball babies 

But Mamma Annette Are out in the wet.” 


49 


The Spi Spiders 

So Hanki and Mamma and Grandfather Spi, 

Carried in all the babies, and put them to dry. 

“Now Hank,” said Mamma, “the babies have grown so big, I 
shall not keep them in balls any longer, but put them in rooms. 
As this palace is small, I shall want all the rooms, — so I’ll take 
yours, and let you go home with Eli. You can stay till Labor Day. 
By that time. Grandpa Zimri, who is a good webber, will have a 
large, new room spun for you, and you can bring Eli back, for 
another visit. 

Mother Annette Emma was very good, 

And all turned out just as she said it would. 

Now, the two little Spi cousins are starting off, side by side. Dear 
little happy Spis, — we must leave you now! Good bye, Hanki 
Panki Spi! Good bye, little Eli Spi!! 





CHEERFUL CHIPPIE AND HAPPY CHAPPIE 


Chitter! Chatter! 
Chit! Chat! 




CHEERFUL CHIPPIE 

■/!><£> 

HAPPY CFLAPPIE 



TT 


HEAP! Cheap!” said little Miss Chippie Chitter. She 
made this remark about her breakfast,— sixty-six seeds of 
weeds exactly suited to her needs. “Cheaper! Cheaper!” 
said little Mr. Chappie Chatter. He was speaking about 
another kind of weed-seed which served for his morning’s feed. They 
were both right. Little Chippie Chitter ate sixty-six tough little 
seeds with fluffy duffs on them. They were very cheap for they cost 
nothing,-what could be cheaper? Little Chappie Chatter ate seven- 
ty-seven rough little seeds with puffy tufts on them. They cost 
nothing, but Chappie’s breakfast was cheaper than Chippie’s, for 
he ate more at the same price. 

These two little sparrows were friends and they played together 
all day. It was winter, and snow was on the ground, but rain or 
snow, or cold or blow, it mattered not to them, -they were always 
cheerful. 

After breakfast, they played “hide and seek.” Chippie Chitter 
would twitter, then suddenly flitter to a tree, sit her down on a 
twig, puff her feathers out big as if she would say, “You won’t 
find me today;” then quickly hide on the other side of a big brown 
leaf. Chappie Chatter wouldn’t look at her, but would fly quite 
high, and spy all round, then light on the ground, as if he thought 
she couldn’t be found, but he knew where she was all the time! 

Chippie couldn’t keep very still. She wiggled the twig, and 



54 Cheerful Chippie and Happy Chappie 

fluttered the leaf, and uttered a weak little, meek little, squeak of 
a peep. Then Chappie would chatter and fly straight at her. She’d 
give a “chip!” and a skip. With a flip of her tail, away she’d sail. 

Chippie Chitter was a quick and slick flitter. Chappie Chatter 
was fatter, and a slower goer, so a little game of chases was played 
in many places, and Chappie could get quite close to Chippie, but 
never catch her. 

One day a terrible accident almost happened! At noon, in the 
busy street, Chappie Chatter was eating a piece of cracker, when 
the rain began to patter, which made such a ratta- 
tatta, that Chappie never heard the awful clatter, 
for perhaps he thought it did not matter. He kept 
on eating until a horrible big auto was very near. 
Then Chippie, who was sitting on the sidewalk 
safe and sound, looked around, and with one 
bound, she flew to the side of little Chap, and gave 
him a tap with her bill, and flew on swiftly to a 
window-sill. Chappie Chatter never stopped to ask 

what was the matter, but flew right after, 

just in time, too, for the horrible wheel of the 
automobile went right over the spot where Chap- 
pie was not, and when, a little while after, they 
went back to investigate the matter, the piece of 
cracker was a good deal flatter! Oh! it might 
have happened to Chappie 
Chatter! 

Some days, the snow 
was deep and covered all 
the weeds, and when no 
little boys or girls remembered to throw out crumbs, little Chappie 
and little Chippie were very hungry, but they never complained. 
They would fly about looking for food and when they found none, 




Cheerful Chippie and Happy Chappie 55 

would cry “Cheer! Cheer!” to each other, to keep their courage up. 

At night they perched upon a trembling twig on the top-most 
swaying branch of an old elm tree in the old city church-yard. 
Thousands and thousands of their little sparrow friends knew the 
same place; and at sunset, they all hurried and flurried, and twit- 
tered and flittered, to find nice perches. When the sun had set and 
the streets were alight, above the dark roofs was a pretty sight, — 
thousands of little sparrows, curled into feather balls. 

Above the noises of the street arose a music strange and sweet,— 
thousands of little throats, singing their good-night song. 

“Cheer! Cheer!! Tweet! Tweet!” 

There, safe from accident and prowling cat and naughty boy, 
upon the tip-top, most tiny, trembling twig of the tall old tree, 
little Chappie Chatter and Chippie Chitter cuddled close together 
and sang their cheerful little bedtime song. 



“Chitter! Chitter!” said Chippie. 
“Chatter! Chatter!” said Chappie. 
“Chitter — ” 


56 Cheerful Chippie and Happy Chappie 

“Chatter — ” 

“Chit—” 

“Chat — ” 

“Chi—” 

Here they both nodded, tucked their tiny heads under their 
little wings and went to sleep. 

Cold and fierce the winter wind about them blew. 
Making mournful sounds of “ Whoo — 000 — 000,” 

But they slept on and never cared nor knew; 

They dreamed of warm and sunny days. 

Of meadows green, and woodsy ways; 

Of merry hours in bowers of flowers, 

Where petals fall in scented showers; 

Where morn and noon are gay and bright, 

And it is never cold at night. 


THE ANTS OF ANTIC 


Up and down, and in and out; 
Over and under, and round about! 








*v 


THE 
ANTS OF 
ANTIC 

Parti 





HE dear little ant named Myra, was having a party 
in the best sand parlor of her ant-hill home. Many 
charming lady ants were present, all seated on pebble 
chairs, around a nice stone table. Tippie, the little 
waitress ant, was bringing in the lunch of caterpillar 
pie and beetle stew, but just as she reached the table, her poor little 
tired arms gave out, and she dropped the pie, and the stew, too; 
and the pie broke in two, and the stew flew. 

Said Myra, “Oh! Tippie how could you?” Tippie shed a tear 
or two, and perhaps 172, and then replied. “I am tired. I have 
worked six days without resting, and my feet are all curly, they are 
so tired. I wish I was the sluggard, that had to go to the ants, and 
not a poor ant that has to do all the work, besides having sluggards 
coming on at any time.” 

With these words she ran away. The ant ladies all arose and 
bowed politely, and left. Myra was alone. It was three o’clock. 
Myra took the chairs one by one and carried them thro’ the hall 
and the pantry, down the stairs, through the cellar, up the stairs, 
through the back pantry, through the upper hall and all the bed- 
rooms, up the attic stairs, and down again, and finally through the 
front door, and tossed them onto a big heap of sand, called “The 
Ant Hill.” It took time. When it was done, she brought them all 
back again, through the same rooms, up and down, and in and out, 
and round about. This took more time. Myra was pleased at what 
she had done, so she did it all over again. 


6o 


The Ants of Antic 


It was now six o’clock. The sun was setting. Tippie was al- 
ready asleep, and dreaming of sluggards. Myra was not sleepy a bit, 
so she began to clean house. She took up all the floors, and carried 
them out doors, she took down all the walls, and put them in the 
halls. Then she put everything back as it was at first. It was now 
nine o’clock; the moon was up. 

The sluggard came. He rapped at the door, and said, — “I have 
been sent to the Ant, to watch its antics. Are you willing I should 
watch you?” Myra smiled sweetly. “I am willing,” she said. “I 
will clean house again.” And she did. 

PART II 


Little Tippie Ant was up early. She had rested so well, her 
feet were not at all curly. It was a busy morning for Tippie; she 
must dust and clean the three best rooms, prepare the dinner, and 
carry three hundred and fifty seven loads of sand up eleven pairs 
of stairs, all before noon. But she could do it, and she did. Miss Myra 
Ant was busy, too. Company was coming,-her three aunts on her 
mother’s side. She must go for them. They lived in another Ant- 
hill house, nine rods away. They could have walked easily in ten 
minutes, but Myra dear thought it much nicer to go for them in 
the coach. This was a peanut-shell. Mr. Grasshopper was the horse. 

He was very frisky and jumped this way and that 

' way. Myra was very proud of her driving, and 

-p... J \.f < tried to keep her steed in the good straight road. 
.1 "" But when she arrived at her aunts’, she looked 


«<■ 

%• 


' J 


Z?/ 


behind, and the track of the peanut-shell coach 



The Ants of Antic 61 

could do better if I had a horse without jumps; this one means 
well, but he’s green, oh! so green.” 

Aunt Annie Ant was ready, waiting. Aunt Fannie Ant was 
nearly ready. Aunt Hannah Ant was not ready at all. Said Aunt 
Annie Ant, “Is that a safe horse? He looks bony.” “He brought 
me here safely,” said Myra, “in two hours.” “Oh!” said Aunt 
Fanny Ant, “he must be gentle. Slow and sure is the kind I like.” 

They were soon seated in the coach, and were off. ’Twas a 
nice ride. At every corner all the Aunt Ants braced their feet, held 
their breaths, shut their eyes, and waited for the jump, and the 
thump, and the bump. There were 91 corners. At the ninety-first, 
Mr. Grasshopper horse gave the biggest jump, — the coach upset, 
and they were all spilled right into the front hall. 

“Did you teach him to do that?” said Aunt Annie Ant. “No,” 
said Myra, “he did that himself; wasn’t it kind? Dear Aunts, wel- 
come to my home; would you like to look over my house before 
your dinner?” 

What a fine time they had! They went into all the rooms, 
up and down the stairs, opened all the closets, went here and there 
and everywhere, and looked in here and peeked in there. 

All too soon Tippie said,— “Dinner!!!!!” 

PART III 

It was a fine day for the picnic, — the sugar picnic. This was 
a special Antic, planned by Miss Myra Ant in honor of her three 
Aunt Ants. 

How pleased they were, and excited, too! How many times 
they ran up and down stairs, -4 1 at least, getting ready. Aunt Hannah 
Ant was last; she was always that, she was older and bigger and not 
quite so spry as the others. But they were all kind to her and waited, 
altho’ it was pretty hard for Ants to wait. At last they started, each 


62 


The Ants of Antic 



carrying a large pail made of a beggar-tick seed. “ If we drop the 
pails, said Myra, they will stick to us; they are a most useful in- 
vention,-for Ants.” 

Tippie went with them, and as they hurried along, through 
the heat and dust, she was the happiest and spryest of them all. 
Soon they reached the place, a house with white paint on the walls 
and red paint on the chimney, and green paint on the blinds, 
and yellow paint on the door, and black paint on the sashes, 
paint, paint, all colors of paint. 

Aunt Fanny Ant admired the colors very much. It’s 
almost as pretty as a sunset,” she said, “or a bed of four- 
o’clocks at dusk.” “Follow your leader,” cried Myra. So 
they went in, not thro’ the front door, — oh! no! but thro, 
a tiny hole between two bricks in the under-pinning. They 
traveled along many beams, thro’ several knot-hole tun- 
nels, around a chimney, under some carpets, 
over some dishes, up the slender legs of a 
table, to the very top. 

There was the sugar! They all plunged 
into it and ate of it, and smiled at it, and 
rolled on it. They danced and pranced, they 
frisked and they whisked, they skipped and 
they tripped. Myra tripped. All the Aunt 
Ants tripped. And Tippie tripped too. “How 
do you like it?” said Myra. “It’s tip-top,” 
^ said the Auntie Ants. Said Tippie, “I think 
^ it’s Tippie-top, too.” 

\ Scoop!!! Something happened! They 
were all suddenly lifted with a heap of the 
sugar and dashed into a great yellow cavern. 

“I know what’s the matter,” cried Tip- 
pie, — “follow me, — quick, quick!” Tippie 



The Ants of Antic. 


6 3 


ran, they all ran, quick as a wink. 

When they were safe at home, seated in the most comfortable 
chairs, fanning themselves, Myra said, “Now, Tippie, explain.” 
“I will” said Tippie. “We were all scooped, by something 
called a lady. The yellow cavern was a dish. If 
we had not run, we should now be baked in a cake. 
My grandmother,” great, great, great, great, 
came very near to being baked.” 

“I have heard” said Myra, “that those ter- 
rible beings called people have picnics, too. Our 
beautiful picnic was spoiled by one of them. I won- 
der how they would like to be scooped through 
the air, and landed they .knew not 
where ! ” 

Said Tippie, 

“ They have just such troubles. 
With au-to-mo-bubbles ! ” 

PART IV 

Tippie went to drive home the cows. 
There were 77, each of a beautiful green 
color, and each named Aphis. The pas- 
ture was in a rose-bush but Tippie could not 
g e t them all, for some had wings and flew 
away. Instead of milk, they gave honey. Ant 
cows are made that way. It is the best way for 
the ants. 

Tippie brought in the nice, fresh, foaming, 
warm honey-milk, and the Aunt Ants each had a 
glass before going to bed. Aunt Hannah Ant had two. 

Myra could not eat, she was too busy. She was trying to 



64 The Ants of Antic. 

learn to be a butterfly. She had the Cyclopedia Bright-Antic-a 
in 99 volumes. 

This told all about butter: also about flies. Myra made notes 
as follows : “ Butter, something made from milk. Fly, an insect.” 

“Now,” said Myra, “I am an insect myself, and have plenty of 
Aphis milk ; the question is, how much of each to mix ! ” 

It was a hard problem. Myra added long columns of figures, 
then subtracted them, and divided them, by every number she 
could think of, but the answer would not come. She worked 
all night. 

Morning came as usual; the sun arose, east by northeast; the 
cows were milked; the Aunt Ants were up, Tippie had breakfast 
ready ; still Myra worked ; she was trying decimal fractions, now. 

Breakfast was served; the Aunt Ants ate, — Tippie ate too. 
Dinner passed, tea-time came, and Myra was still at her problem. 

Myra called her Aunt Ants to her, and addressed them thus : 

“ If I could flutter. 

Then I might fly; 

If I were butter. 

Then I might try 
To be a butterfly! 

Or in other words, 

If butter could flutter, 

I might try — 

To fly.” 

Then something happened. It happened to Myra. She did 
not fly, she swooned, and no wonder! She had worked too 
many hours without rest or food! 

They put her to bed. Aunt Annie Ant warmed her feet. 
Aunt Fanny Ant cooled her head, and Aunt Hannah Ant stood 
around and said, “Do this, do that!” 


The Ants of Antic. 65 

Myra was well again the next day, and her Aunts gave her 
some advice. 

Said Aunt Annie Ant: “It is better to have a sensible am- 
bition than a foolish one. If you should study until you were 
black in the face (you are almost that now), you could never fly ! ” 

Said Aunt Fanny Ant: “You must never get so interested in 
study that you forget to eat and sleep. Creatures called boys 
and girls never do ! ” 

Said Aunt Hannah Ant, “Just take my advice, and just be nice.” 

Then Tippie came in and said, “ There ’s an agent here with a 
new book.” 

“What is it?” asked Myra. 

“ The Perfect Ani> y said Tippie. 

“ I will buy a copy and study it! ” exclaimed Myra. 

She did. 

PART V 

It was a beautiful harvest morn. Myra thought so; the Aunt 
Ants thought so, and Tippie also, thought so, too. The sky was 
robin’s-egg blue. 

The grass was emerald hue, and fresh with sparkling dew. 

Everything looked new, while every flower that grew, and 
every bird that flew, and every wind that blew, sang of the good 
and true. 

The Aunt Ants said they must go to their own home to-day, 
because winter would come soon. 

“ I wish you would stay with me all winter, ” said Myra. All 
three said they would, so that was settled. 

“Now we must get our harvest home,” said Myra, “and you 
must all help.” 

They worked hard bringing grains and fruits from the fields, 
and filling pantries, closets, and cellars. 


66 


The Ants of Antic. 


Up-stairs and down they went, out and in the door, rushing 
here and rushing there, carrying heavy loads, hurry-hurry, scurry- 
scurry, up and down, and in and out, over and under, and around 
about. 

By set of sun their work was done. 

“Now when winter comes,” said Myra, we will have plenty: if 
we empty all the store-rooms, we can eat the furniture in the din- 
ing-room.” True, for the dining-table was a dried mushroom, the 
chairs were wheat kernels, the sideboard a cracked nut, and the 
dishes which they called cut-glass were really grains of sugar ! 

“ But, * said Aunt Hannah, as she toasted her feet by the blazing 
fire, “ why did Tippie fill the 7th drawer from the bottom of the 
9th bureau from the left, in the 3d closet from the corner of the 
hall, with prickly nettles? 

“We may need them,” said Myra. They were needed! 

It happened next day, at 43 minutes and 19 seconds past 
13 o’clock, thus-wise: The Ant-eater came! He put his tongue 
right through the front door, and licked all the pictures off of the 
walls of the halls. 

He was gigantic. The Ants of Antic were frantic ! 

That awful tongue came again. This time it took all the fur- 
niture in the hall, and the little twisty, twirly end went into the 
sitting-room and caught Aunt Hannah by the hair ! But that was 
really lucky, for Aunt Hannah’s hair was a wig. It came off ! 

“Dear Aunt Hannah, your wig is gone, but I am so glad you 
are left,” said Myra. « I must do something ! ” Suddenly she did. 

She went to the 3d closet from the corner of the hall, opened 
the door, went in, opened the 9th bureau from the left, opened 
the 7th drawer from the bottom, took out the prickly nettles, and 
threw them all over the hall. 

Just in time, too. The Ant-eater’s tongue came for the third 


The Ants of Antic. 67 

time. It took all the nettles. It never came any more. But winter 
came ! 

The Aunt Ants lived with Myra till spring. When they went 
home they tipped Myra well. They tipped Tippie, too. 

Through ! ! 1 





HARRY CRAB AND CARRY CRAB 


Down where the salt sea-breezes moan. 
And the rollicking wavelets turn to foam. 
The Crabs of Crabland love to roam ! 








HARFCOvd carry crab 



ARRY CRAB wore drab and blue, but mostly 
blue. She was pretty, and she knew it, and Harry 
Crab thought so, too. They met near Quahaug 
Arch, in Sea-shell Avenue. Said he, “ How do you do ? ” 

Said she, “ I ’m pretty swell, thank you.” 

Then Carry Crab stood very still, with her blue pointed feet, 
daintily poised in the mud, and Harry darted around, up and 
down, back and forth, forwards, sidewards, backwards, just to 
show what he could do. 

Just then. Little Joe, a horrible boy, came along in a boat, 
with a spear. Carry Crab just wiggled her toes in the mud and 
went under, while Harry dashed into a thicket of sea-weed. Just 
in time, too, for the wicked spear came down, ker-plump, into the 
mud, just where Harry had been a moment before. 

“No crabs here,” said Little Joe, as he paddled away. Harry 
and Carry heard the remark and came back to play. 

Now Harry was growing very fond of Carry, so he did all kinds 
of tricks and acrobatic feats to please her. He would open the 
jaw of his claw, and snap it quick ! and Carry would smile awhile 
at the sounding click; or, he would use the jaw of his claw like 
a paw, and, with a slap, give a rap like the clap of a trap, and hit 
a good lick right or left. It was a slick trick, and it made Carry 
smile a long while, in her finest style ! 


7 2 


Harry Crab and Carry Crab 

Once Harry did harry a piece of shell. 

And did carry to Carry a sea-flower to smell ; 
After a while. Carry could not smile; 

She was tired of so much wile and guile. 


Harry Crab was very gallant, and, knowing that lady Crabs 
have appetites, he sedately offered his claw, and escorted the 
fair blue one to the shallows, for a shore dinner. They dined on 
Little-Neck clams and minced fish, garnished with sea-weed, and 
for desert — but here is the menu: 



When the repast was over, Harry arose, and, balancing himself 
on the tips of his toes, he made a bow profound to Carry, and 
asked her if she was willing to marry ! 

Carry consented. 

And he was contented. 

CHAPTER II 

The next day was set for the wedding, and Carry had to go 
away to prepare her bridal array. This did not take long. Deep 
down into the softest, blackest mud, she went, but she never spent 
a cent; she just sat very still for a spell; her old drab and blue 
dress of hard shell came off pretty well, and a nice soft shell of 
drab and blue immediately grew anew. 


73 


Harry Crab and Carry Crab 

Meanwhile, Harry had gone to sleep, but early in the morn- 
ing he was awakened by being stepped upon by something soft. 
Without stopping to think, he opened the jaw of his claw, and 
pinched. 

It was the toe 
Of Little Joe, 

And Harry Crab, he grabbed it so 
That Little Joe cried, “Let me go!” 

Now Harry Crab had heard it said, that when a toe was to be 
had, it must be pinched till thunder comes ! Now, this was Harry’s 



wedding-day, and so he longed to get away. But he wanted to 
do right, so he held on with all his might. 

From time to time, he scanned the sky, to see if thunder- 
clouds were nigh; from time to time, he gave a sigh, for the 
wedding hour was drawing nigh. 

By the sea, on the beach, in a corner of the bay, where tall 
grasses waved on either side, and the sandy shore so white was 
smoothed by the tide, the wedding was to be. The cousins of 
the bride, Lelia and Lulia Lobster, did the decorating. They 
hung banners of algae and garlands of sea-weed, and put bunches 
of sea-anemones in appropriate places. 


74 


Harry Crab and Carry Crab 

Then Lulia Lobster gathered a great heap of beautiful white 
sea-foam, to decorate the bridal isle, but a saucy, naughty little 
salt Sea-Breeze came along just then, and gave a little puff. All 
the sea-foam scattered everywhere. 

“Stop!” said Lulia. 

“ I will not ! ” said Breeze. 

“Please,” said she. 

“Well,” said he “if you will give me a written invitation to 
the wedding, I will help you to decorate.” 

She did. 

He helped. 

With a good strong piff ! paff ! puff ! 

He blew the shining, foaming stuff 
Into two rows of fluffy white. 

And Lulia gurgled with delight ! 

CHAPTER III 

It was noon, the hour of the wedding. All was ready; the 
guests were in their places. King Crab was there in his royal 
black armor. The aristocracy was represented by the great 
Crustacean family, Mr. and Mrs. Crawfish, Barney Barnacle, and 
Herman Hermit Crab. 

The Prawns and Shrimps and other more common neighbors 
attended in great numbers. Just as the sun marked upon the 
sand the hour of noon, the Fiddler Crab Orchestra struck up the 
“ Wedding March,” and the bridal procession appeared. 

First came the Ocypodian Brothers, who acted as ushers; next, 
little Miss Phyllopod, who carried the string. (In Crabland, the 
nuptial knot is tied with a sea-weed string, in place of a ring.) 

Then came the four Crab bridemaids, dressed in buff, with 
trains of red and brown dulse ; and then, — the bride ! 


Harry Crab and Carry Crab 7 5 

She was dressed in drab and blue of softest hue, and she wore a 
train of silvery shells, and a lace-like veil of foam. 

But the bridegroom Crab — where was he ? Down at the bot- 
tom of the sea, pinching the toe of Little Joe ! ! ! 

Long the wedding waited ; the guests waited, the ushers waited ; 
the bride nearly fainted ! 

But, at last, a cloud appeared in the sky, which grew black 
and spread. 

The sun was covered and the wind was high. A few drops 



of rain came spat, and then — it thundered ! 

Harry Crab immediately let go of Joe’s toe, went to his wedding 
and — was married. 

After the wedding, the old King Crab heard Harry’s story, 
and said: “You did the best you could, but that old idea about 
holding on till thunder comes is all nonsense ! You came near 


76 Harry Crab and Carry Crab 

losing the prettiest wife in these parts, for if you had not come, 
I should have married her myself ! ” 

Then the shower went away. 

And bright sunshine filled the day, 

And the newly-wedded pair sailed away, 

In a pearl-of-shell affair, bright and gay, 

Down the bay. 

Out of sight. 

Lelia stood upon the shore. 

Where the wildest breakers roar. 

And watched them going far away. 

And she too 

Gurgled with delight! 


THE BEES OF BUMBLETON 


“ Oh ! the merry hour ! 
Oh ! the busy fun ! ” 





c Thc 

BEES OF BUMBLETON 

Part i 



HE big lady Bee, named Amanda, had 
wing-ache, and had gone to bed, cross 
and buzzy. The little lady Bee, named 
Nancy, had agreed to sit up with her, 
but was so tired that she shut her 35,291 
eyes just for a moment and fell fast asleep. 

No one else was at home except the Queen, and she was 
always so busy about her own affairs, that she had no time to be 
looking out for danger. 

There were 379,485 jars of preserves under Amanda’s bed, all 
labelled “ Honey,” and no one to guard them. 

It was no wonder that the sun set before night came, after such 
a state in Bumbleton. 

Presently there was an earthquake, the whole kingdom was 
rudely upset, the jars all broken, and Amanda and Nancy swim- 
ming for their lives in honey. 

Nancy had been to a swimming-school, 
in a cask of molasses, and she knew what 
to do. She wiggled herself onto a piece of comb — not this kind, 
and helped poor, sore-winged Amanda to arise. 

Together, they quickly fashioned a net of cobwebs, and fished 
the Queen out of the depths. 



79 



8o 


The Bees of Bumbleton 


They did not bother about the thousands of children, little 
baby Bees, all buried under the sweet mountain, for they knew 
that children like sweets, and can never get enough ! 

Said Amanda, gruffly, in a bee-flat contralto voice, “They 
will eat themselves out.” 

The three flew away. 

PART II 

When Nancy dear, Amanda queer, and Queen of the year, in 
their flight, came to the green forest, they alighted upon a brown 
stump, gracefully folded their filmy wings, and carefully smoothed 
out the knotty kinks in their little feet. 

It was seven and one-third minutes after two and one-half 
o’clock, by standard bee time, and Amanda tried to think. 
Nancy rubbed her nose with her antennae, and Queen rubbed 
her antennae with her nose. 

They were in a plight, — everything lost, home, children, pre- 
serves, and comb. No wonder they looked bee-wildered ! 

Said Amanda gruffly, “We have no hands, it is true; but with 
eighteen legs, six antennae, and 60,000 eyes, we ought to do some- 
thing ! ” 

Said Nancy sweetly : 

“ If A. Bee C’s with all her eyes. 

She ought to be extremely wise ; 

And with six feet, get enough to eat ; 

And sure her two antennae are better than not any ! ! ! *' 

Nancy was not much of a poet, she could really make better 
honey than rhyme, but Queen was delighted with her attempt, 
and at once made her Poet-Laureatess, with a salary of 600 cells 
of honey. 

Queen had no honey to give, it is true, but she gave it all the 


The Bees of Bumbleton 


8 1 


same. Presently, Queen disappeared; she had found a hole in 
the stump, and gone in. Queens have their ways, and this is 
one of them. 

Then the wind blew, and as it blew, it bore the scent of flow- 
ers sweet, — mignonette and violet, petunia and pink, gilliflower 
and heliotrope, honeysuckle, rose, and others, that titillate the 
nose. 

Nancy and Amanda smelled the sweet odors, and could sit no 
longer. They flew to the flowers, bumbled into them, dug out 
the honey, tumbled out, rushed to other flowers, bumbled in and 
tumbled out. 

Oh! the merry hour! Oh! the busy fun! And soon, with 
pockets full of choicest sweets, Amanda and Nancy flew back to 
the stump, crawled into the hole, and presented the Queen with a 
delicious supper. 

Said Nancy: “I have bee-thought me of a plan! Let us 
name our new home * Bumbleton ’!!!!” It was done ! 

PART III 

On the third day in the new home, Amanda went out alone, 
leaving the Queen shut up in her room, and Nancy contentedly 
putting up preserves in waxen jars. As Amanda bumbled along 
from flower to flower, gathering honey, she thought she heard 
a queer and frightening sound, but could see nothing to disturb. 

While going into a Japanese lily, down the gorgeous petal 
avenue, she heard the sound nearer, and backed out suddenly, but 
only just in time, for there was the awful Robber Fly, close upon 
her. 

How Amanda flew!!! If you had been there, you could not 
have seen her, so quickly she flew. She rolled up her antennae, cud- 
dled up her feet, put double speed in her wings, and flew! flew ! ! 


82 


The Bees of Bumbleton 


It was a race for life, for the Robber Fly kept close behind, 
and seemed to gain. Amanda reached the woods, and dodged 
behind an oak tree, but, in an instant, she saw him coming 
around the bark, with his knife out, ready to slay her. 

With a mighty buzz, and a fearful bumble, she was off; but 
he gained on her, he was very near now ; she could feel the fan- 
ning of his wings, close behind her. 

Then Amanda knew she must do something, and quickly. She 
knew what to do, and did it, too. 



The Robber Fly dropped to the ground, and Amanda was safe. 
Do you want to know what she did ? It was very simple and 
easy, for her. 

She just took out her honey-bag, turned quickly, and threw a 
lot of honey in his eyes ; they stuck together instantly, so that he 
could not see ! ! 

Happy Amanda hurried home, entered the hole in the stump, 
found Nancy and the Queen all right, had her supper and went 
to bed. It was a beautiful night, and the stars shone bright. 
Nancy was awakened from her sleep in the middle of the night, 
by a slow, rasping noise. 

“Amanda, what is that?” cried Nancy. 

Amanda replied in her low, heavy tones : “I’m sharpening my 
sting. I may need it some day. Have we any more sand-paper, 
except this little piece?” 

“Yes,” said Nancy, “there’s a large piece in a blue bag, under 


The Bees of Bumbleton 83 

the yellow vase, behind the pink pitcher, on the red table, in the 
little green room.” 

“Well,” said Amanda, “if I can remember the directions, 
I ’ll finish my job.” 

She did. 

PART IV 

It was four o’clock in the morning. Nancy was up and ready. 
She had polished her antenna?, smoothed her wings, eaten her 
breakfast of honey, and was ready for the day’s work. Every day 
of her life, she had been as busy as a B, but to-day she was to be 
the busiest Bee ever known. 

Amanda was chilly, and must lie in bed. The Queen was silly 
(Amanda thought), for she was shut in her room, and would not 
come out. 

Indeed, Mrs. Queen had not been out of her room since com- 
ing to Bumbleton. So Nancy must gather all the honey, and 
preserve all she gathered, and feed the others, before night. No 
wonder she was so early. 

When out among the flowers, Nancy was happy, and noon 
came all too soon. The sun was very hot, and at one o’clock it 
was hard to find any nice, fresh flowers not wilted a bit. She 
had filled her pockets many times, but this one would never fill. 

Suddenly, she smelt a beautiful smell. “It’s a new kind of 
flower,” said Nancy; “it comes thro’ the open window of this 
house. I must go in.” She went. 

There, on a table, was a great heap of the finest honey all 
ready, so she thought. She rested upon it and began to fill her 
pocket. It was delicious. 

But presently, little Nancy began to lift one foot, and then 
another, they felt so numb. 

Soon, they would not lift, and her little wings began to shake. 


The Bees of Bumbleton 


84 

and her little antennas to tremble, and her little teeth to chatter. 

She was very chilly. 

With a violent effort, she flew from the delicious mountain, 
and, after warming up a bit in the sun on the window-sill, went 
straight home. 

Amanda was still in bed, but when she heard poor Nancy’s 
story, she got up, put on 30,000 pairs of spectacles, crossed her 
six feet into three pair, looked very wise and said : “ Humph ! I 
know all about your mountain of sweet. It was ice-cream ! ” 

Just then, the Queen opened her door a little crack, and called 
softly, “ Come here ! ” 

Amanda and Nancy went into the Queen’s room, and such a 
sight as met their eyes ! 

Everywhere, in every direction, were tiny little beds, and in 
each little bed, tucked in snugly, was a baby Bee, fast asleep. 

“I have been very busy,” said the “Queen, making all the 
beds. There are three hundred.” 

“Well,” said Nancy, “I am glad we put up all those preserves. 
These little B dears, or dear Bees, will be hungry when they wake.” 

Amanda looked gloomy. “ I hope they won’t cry ! I should 
say if they did, it would be quite buzzy in Bumbleton.” 

Presently, the 300 babies woke. 

They all cried. 

It was buzzy ! ! 1 



THE TOADS OF HOPPITI-HIGH 


Dear little, wee little Spotty Dot! 
The Toads of Toadland’s tiny tot.” 





TOADS OF 
JHOPPITIHIGH 

Pai^t i 


OADY Toad was a little fat fellow, and wore a 
coat of brown and yellow. He had beautiful 
eyes of the largest size, and he looked exceeding- 
ly wise. 

He sat very still in Hoppiti-High, on the reddish sand so hot 
and dry, and anxiously he watched the sky. He said, — 

“ I wish it would rain ; 

The trees are dry. 

The grass is dry. 

The sand is dry, — 

And so am I. 

The flowers are dying. 

The breeze is sighing. 

And I am crying, — 

For a good wet rain.” 

Just then, a drop came down kerflop, and hit the top of 
Doady’s head. It came kerplump, and made him jump, against 
a stump, and bump his head. But he didn’t seem to care, for he 
tipped his nose and sniffed the air, and called out gaily It ’s go- 
ing to rain ! It ’s going to rain ! ! ” 

All the Toads of Hoppiti-High, little or big, heard what 
Doady Toad had said, and came tumbling up, and scrambling out 
of their beds of sand, to be on hand. And none too soon, for 
the shower came down in big, hard drops and wet the hot dry 


88 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 


sand, and cooled it too, and washed the dusty trees, and watered 
the thirsty grass and flowers. 

All the Toads of Hoppiti-High forgot they ever had been dry, 
— they were now so wet and happy. Under the dripping willow 
tree, in the nice wet grass, the little Toads played games. First, 
they played leap-frog, only they called it “Leap-toad.” For 
them, it was a jolly play, for they hopped and jumped most any- 
way. Then they played hop-scotch, or Hoppiti-High Scotch, 
whichever you choose. 



Doady was very good at games, — he could jump as high as any 
in Hoppiti-High, and he could wiggle his toes in the dirt, and 
quickly dig a hole in which to hide ; so that, when they played 
the game of hide-and-seek, Doady was always hidden first. 

There was one little tiny Toadlet, named “Spotty Dot,” who 
was just learning to play, and he kept close to Doady, and 
watched him all the time so as to learn to play well. 

And Doady took good care 
Of little Spotty Dot, 

And took him by the hand, 

When all played “Trotty-Trot.” 

Spotty Dot was so full of play that he hopped too hard, and 
jumped too high for such a little fellow; but Doady was so brave 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 89 

and strong, he helped little Spotty along, and wouldn’t let him 
play too long, or do anything else — that ’s wrong. 

All the little Toads played happy games in the nice, wet grass, 
and had great fun. There were Thomas Toad and Thaddeus 
Toad, and Nippy and Tucky, the twins, and Hannah Luella and 
Deborah Ella, — and, a lot more. 

Every one was as happy as she or he could be, and Doady’s lit- 
tle cousin Juella Tree Toad, perched herself in the willow tree, and 
was so full of merry glee, that she squealed a song at the top of 
her voice. 

“Zee! Zee! Zee! oh! Ze-e-e ! ! ! 

The rain soon stopped. Suddenly, in the midst of the fun and 
frolic, a fearful, clattering monster, called a lawn-mower, crushed 



thro’ the grass, and rushed into the midst of the picnic. All the 
Toads jumped every way for their lives, and some of them got 
nearly caught in the knives. 

But Doady Toad took Spotty Dot, and hopped away to another 
lot. 

They came to a place where the grass was high ; under a fence, 
it seemed to lie. 


9 ° 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 

“Come! ’’said Doady to Spotty, “take a good jump — do try !” 
Spotty was tired, but he did his best; he held Doady firmly by 
the arm, and, together, they gave a fine long jump. 

But, strange to say. 

When they had hopped, 

The grass gave way. 

And down they flopped ! 

Down, down, into the ground, far out of sight — 

Doady looked around and said, “We’re in a plight! 

This is an empty post-hole. 

And now that we are here, 

If no one comes to get us out. 

We’ll be right here next year !” 

PART II. 

Doady tried to jump out of the post-hole, but his highest hop 
was only half-way to the top. “It ’s no use,” he said, “we must 
make the best of it; perhaps supper will come.” It did. A 
bungling bug suddenly dropped, but before it reached the bottom 
of the hole, Doady opened his mouth, and shut it. That was 
all ! The bug was gone ! ! ! 

Then one fell for Spotty. More came — and — went. 

After their lunch was finished, Doady said, “Spotty — let me 
give you some advice. If you want to be wise and grow, never 
eat a thing that’s slow.” 

Then Doady had a nap. But Spotty was too excited to sleep, 
and, when he saw a something creep, slowly down the wall so 
steep, he forgot what Doady had said, and opened his mouth, 
and took it in ! 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 91 

It was a wasp, and it stung him so, 

He opened his mouth, and let it go. 

“Oh! Doady,” he cried, “I’m bad, I know. 

For I didn’t mind what you told me, oh ! 

My mouth is so hot, 

I shall never forget. 

That anything slow 
Should never be ’et.” 

Doady was very much displeased at Spotty’s behavior, and 
also at his very bad grammar. He corrected the sentence, and 
told Spotty he should have said, — 

“ My mouth is so hot, 

I acknowledge I’m beaten; 

For, anything slow 
Should never be eaten.” 

Night came on and Spotty cuddled down close to Doady, but 
neither was sleepy. They could n’t be. If little boys and girls 
were Toads, they would never be sleepy at night. After they 
had waited awhile. Spotty said, “Doady, it’s tiresome doing noth- 
ing; please tell me a story of your Polly wog days.” 

“Well,” said Doady, “once on a time, I was a little fish, and 
had a tail. How I used to wiggle and waggle my tail about, and 
swim and skim in the water. One day, I found I was “feet- 
ing,” that is, — having feet grow. It surprised me very much, 
but after all my feet had grown, I lost my tail; wasn’t that sad? 
But I m glad that I did not become a frog, and have to sit on a 
water-log. 

Sometimes, when a Polly wog loses its tail, it becomes a Frog. 
It’s much better to become a Toad, because you can help the 
farmers. You see. Spotty, the more bugs you and I catch, the 
better crops the farmer can have.” 


92 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 


At that moment, they heard a queer sound, as of some one dig- 
ging near at hand, and presently, Mrs. Chloe Mole walked into 
the hole, with her nose all sandy. 


“Well,” said she 
“You ’re caught, I see ! 

I cannot wait, 

To know your fate.” 

She put her head against the sand. 

And scooped a bit with either hand. 
And in a minute, she was gone. 

And the little Toads were left forlorn. 


think she might have talked with us a little while,’ ’ said Spotty 

“I suppose she is very busy,” said Doady, “and has 
a great many mole-hills to make before morning.” 

Dawn came at last, and at the first ray of light, the 
two little fellows heard a sound of “Zee! Zee! Zee! 

oh! Zee-e-e-e-e .” 

“It’s Juella in a tree,” cried Doady. 

Then he called in his loudest voice, — “Juella, please 
go to Hoppiti-High and ask all the Toads to come 
and get us out.” 

And Juella went as she was sent. 

Presently, she returned, and with 
her came, Thomas Toad, and Thad- 
deus Toad, and Nippy and Tucky — 
the twins, and Hannah Luella and 
Deborah Ella. 

They all stood around the top of 
the hole and made remarks. 



93 


The Toads of Hoppiti-High 

“ I don’t see,” said Thomas Toad, 

How to get them out! 

We might get down and boost them up, — 

But how would we get out ? ! !” 

Said Thaddeus Toad, “ They ’re in a fix ; 

We might fill up the hole with bricks.” 

Nippy and Tucky, altho they were two. 
Couldn’t think of a thing to do. 

Said Hannah Luella, 

“It’s worse than a cellar.” 

And Deborah Ella 

Echoed Hannah Luella. 

While Juella, she, just sat in a tree, and cried “ Oh ! See ! See ! ! ” 
When the Toads of Hoppiti-High heard Juella give her cry, 
they all looked scared and ran away, for the farmer was coming 
to plant his post, and that meant, for them, to clear the coast. 
And Doady Toad and Spotty Dot, 

Knew that theirs was a sorry lot; 

They knew the post would fill the hole, 

And treat them worse than Mrs. Mole. 

But the farmer was a kind man, and he knew that little Toads 

sometimes fall into post-holes, so, before he planted the post, he 

looked into the hole, saw Doady and Spotty trembling at the bot- 
tom, and, politely lifted them out. 

“That is the very best farmer I ever knew,” said Spotty, as 
they hopped away to Hoppiti-High. I wish we could eat all the 
bugs on his crop ! ’ ’ 

Doady was doubtful, but he replied, 

“We might try ! ! ” 












THE BUGS OF BUGLY 


“You may see Billy Bug and Bennie Bug, 
And even little Boo ; 

But I do hope you ’ll never meet. 

That stupid Bug-a-boo !” 








CKe 

BUGS OP BUGLY 

Part i 



T was high noon in Bugly. Mrs. Azubah Bug 
walked grandly forth from her summer resi- 
dence. She was dressed in finest style, and 
she carried a smile. 

She was walking out for lunch, to munch 
and to crunch. This is how she did it. 

Straight to the plum-tree went she, walked up the trunk, out 
on a big limb, and down a little one; then she crossed a twig. 
At the end of the twig was a plum — a nice, fat, young, juicy, rosy, 
ripe plum ! She sat upon that plum and put in her thumb. 
Then she cried, “I cannot eat it all, but I can try.” 

She did try. It was very trying to the plum, but it never said 
a word. It couldn’t talk, of course, and, altho it tried in ways 
of its own to show its displeasure, Mrs. Azubah never noticed, 
but went right on with her lunch. 

It was one o’clock in Bugly. Mrs. Azubah Bug had eaten one 
thirty-seventh of the plum, and her luncheon was finished. “ I 
may as well eat my five-o’clock dinner now,” she said; “it will 
save time.” She ate her dinner. 

It was now two o’clock in Bugly. Two thirty -sevenths of the 
plum had gone. Said Mrs. Azubah: “To-morrow morning at 
eight, I shall be wanting a breakfast ; it will be much less trouble 
to eat it now.” She ate. 

Three thirty-sevenths had gone. 

It was now three o’clock in Bugly. “What a fine way to get 
ahead of time,” said Mrs. Azubah. “I will now eat all my 


98 The Bugs of Bugly 

meals for a week.” She did. Thirty thirty-sevenths had gone. 
Seven thirty-sevenths were left, or, in other words, the stone ! 

Mrs. Azubah Bug was not more greedy than other Bugs. Miss 
Bertha Beulah Bug, and Mrs. Bethulia Ball Bug, both fine lady 
Bugs, always ate a month ahead. “It saves so much time,” they 
said, ‘ ‘and then, if you are fond of plums, you must take each one as 
it comes. In the 791st page of the thirteenth volume of the 
eleventh edition of the Blue Blood Book of Bugly, it says — ‘It is 
a well-known fact that the best Bugs are the biggest eaters.’ ” 
Mrs. Azubah was trying to be the best Bug in Bugly. 

At time of dew, it chilly grew. Betsey Bug, the little maid 
Bug, brought a rug for her mistress Bug. 

As the last ray of day faded away, — 

Azubah Bug 
Took up her rug. 

And home she did go 
To her bug-a-low. 

As she was retiring, she looked out of the window, and said, — 
“Bugly is bright 
With fire-fly light. 

Betsey — good-night ! ” 

It was August 11th, and fine picnic weather — a great day for 
all the Bugs of Bugly. They were going to the shore, to hear 
the ocean roar, — to sit on the sand and get tanned. Little Billy 
Bug and little Bennie Bug, the twins, were up before light, ready 
to start, hours before time. 

“ I wish it was time to go,” said Bennie Bug. 

“I’m going to set the clock ahead,” said Billy Bug. He did. 

Billy was a bumptious boy Bug. He climbed the steeple, and 
while the people were asleep in bed, he opened the clock and set 
it ahead. 


99 


The Bugs of Bugly 


Bennie said it was n’t right, 

Thus to hurry up the night ; 

But Billy told him not to tell. 

So Bennie Bug said “Very well!” 

Soon the town was awake. What a surprise to find it was so late — 
nearly ten o’clock ! How they did hustle and bustle and tussle ! 
How they did hurry and scurry and flurry! But at last, all was 
ready. The older Bugs rode. The omnibugbus was crowded with 
grandfathers and grandmothers, great-uncle and great-aunt Bugs. 

.✓ Some of the Bugs had their own buggies, and 
Mrs. Azubah went in her own bug-barouche, 
but all the little Bugs had to walk. Billy 
Bug and Bennie Bug could n’t walk ; they ran ! 
They soon reached the shore, and first heard 
the roar. 

Said Bennie, “The sea is so green and the 
sky is so blue, I wish it would stay so forever, 
I do ! ” Billy said, “ Come on — let ’s play ! ” 
All the little Bugly Bugs were ready to 
There were Buster Bug 




and Binty Bug and Buntie Bug, and little Boo. There were 
many others, too. 

They played leap-frog and hop-scotch, and swing-the-pot, and 


IOO 


The Bugs of Bugly 

tag, and cross-tag. They liked cross-tag best, and Billy Bug al- 
ways crossed when Bennie was chased, and saved him. When 
the distant church chimes sounded, it was time to eat. They 
gathered in bunches, and ate their lunches. 

After eating, old Grandfather Bug told stories ; then there were 
more games. Finally came the great swimming match. Seven- 
teen Bugs were ranged on the beach, with a good stout life- 
preserver on each. The prize was a copper cent. 

At the word “Go!” off they all went! Bravely they breasted 
the billows. They were rudely tossed about; sometimes a Bug 
went under, but he always came up. At last, the race was done, 
and Billy Bug had won. Bennie Bug was just as happy as if he 
had won himself, and when Billy gave him half the cent to spend, 
he was almost too happy. Six o’clock came and the picnic was 
done. 

When all the bugs were home and prepared for the night, dark 
did not come ; it waited until ten o’clock ; then night came. All 
the grown-ups of Bugly thought it very strange that night should 
change. 

But Billy knew 
’Twould never do 
To have to-morrow come too soon; 

So, in the middle of the night, 

He climbed again, the dizzy height. 

To little Bennie’s great delight, 

And set the old church clock aright — 

By the light — 

Of the moon ! 

Billy Bug and Bennie were newsboys. Their mother was a 
widow Bug, and poor, so they helped her by selling the “ Bugly 


IOI 


The Bugs of Bugly 

Bi-weekly Biggie.” Each copy of this paper was printed on an 
aspen leaf, which quivered and shook. 

There was an old Bug who wanted a Biggie, 

And, at the price, he did haggle and higgle ; 

But after his tongue would waggle and wiggle 
For quite a bit, — 

He would take his “Bugly Bi-weekly Biggie,” 

And pay for it. 

Bennie Bug and Billy Bug were not the only Bugly newsboys. 
Binty Bug was one, and Buntie too, and so was also, little Boo. 
They all had trouble with the aspen leaf papers, but Billy’s pile 
was so much larger, that, when they quivered and shivered and 
shook, they made him quiver and shiver and shake. 

The aspens would shake and Billy would quake ; 

The aspens would quiver and Billy would shiver; 

He shook in his walk; 

And, as for his talk — 

All he could utter 
Was in a stutter ! 

“I don’t see,” said Billy, “why they don’t p-p-p-rint these 
pa-pa-pa-per-per-pers on ma-ma-ma-ple-ple-ple leaves, so they 
won’t shake-ake-ake so-so-so.” But Mr. Boister Bug, the 
printer, would only use aspen leaves, because they were cheapest, 
and Billy continued to shake and quake, and quiver and shiver, 
until he thought of a plan. 

“It’s the wind in the leaves that makes them shake,” he said 
to himself. “ It ’s the same kind of wind that roars in the chimney. 
I ’ll put the papers in the fire-place, and perhaps the little winds 
will go out of them, to play with the little winds in the chimney.” 


102 


The Bugs of Bugly 


/ & /> 

• r 






He tried it the very next day; and 
no sooner did he place the quivering 
pile in the empty fire-place, than all 
the winds went right up the chimney, 
and played the game of little roars with 
the breezes that were already there. 

After that, all the papers were so nice 
and still, it was real pleasure to carry 
them about. Billy never shook any 
more, and never even stuttered another 
stut. Then he showed Bennie how 
to get the wind out of his papers; he 
showed Binty Bug and Buntie, too, and also little Boo. 

Billy was a kind boy Bug, and willing to help others ; he might 
have patented “The Getting-Wind-Out-of-Papers Scheme,” or- 
ganized a company, and sold the stock, and the wind also, and 
become the wealthiest Bug in Bugly, but he wanted the other 
Bugs to have a chance to buggle,* so he helped them all he 
could, and they were all happy together. 

All the big Bugs thought Billy was “the right kind,” and 
patted him on the back as they ate the morning papers. Mrs. 
Azubah Bag patted him twice, perhaps because she had a large 
appetite for news, and always bought and ate two papers ! 

When Billy Bug went home and told his mother how many 
loving pats he had received, she gave him some more, put him to 
bed, and said, — 

“Now Billy, you must go to sleep, 

And sleep the whole long night ; 

And all the good you ’ve done, I ’ll keep, 

And put it in a little heap ; 

* Buggle means to earn a Bug living. 


103 


The Bugs of Bugly 

And when you waken with the light, 

You ’ll find the world grown fair and bright; 

For, the little heap of good will grow. 

And spread from left to right.” 

The moon was down, the sun was up. It was a warm 
summer morn. Little breezes were having games among the 
tree-tops ; the distant ocean was turning in the bed of the sea, and 
giving forth some sleepy roars. 

Billy Bug and Bennie Bug had been selling “ Biggies.” Ben- 
nie had just one left, and he stopped to eat — I mean, read it. 
“Hurry up!” said Billy. 

But Bennie wouldn’t hurry up, nor down, nor any way. 

He read and read, 

His face got red. 

He scratched his head; 

And still he read. 

At last he said, “ The circus is coming ! Bug-ums and Beetly’s ! 
Four Paws and Six Legs, Seven-Ring Circus!! Stupendous and 
Tremendous Grasshopper Hippodrome, and Consolidated Colossal 
Coliseum Combined ! ! ! Eight Ethereal, Aerial Equestrian Acts ! ! 

Ten Tawny, Tumultuous Tumblers!!! 
Also, a Concatenated Conglomeration of 
WONDERS!!” 

“I want to go !” said Billy Bug. 

“I wish I could,” said Bennie. 

They knew their mother was too poor 
to give them any money, so they decided 
to work and earn all they could. They 
went to Mrs. Azubah Bug, who was the 
grandest lady Bug in Bugly, and had plenty 



of real bug money. 


104 The Bugs of Bugly 

Betsy Bug opened the door and escorted them o’er the polished 
floor. 

Mrs. Azubah Bug received them graciously. She said, — 

“ I will give to you each, the price of a ticket, 

If, at croquet, you will not miss a wicket.” 

They gleefully began the game. They used no mallets, and, 
for balls, each little Bug rolled himself into a Ball-Bug. 

They rolled and rolled here and there. 

Thro many a wicket to hit the stake; 

They played the game with greatest care. 

But, alas ! they made a little mistake. 

Mrs. Azubah was so sorry they failed at croquet, that she agreed 
to pay them the same to saw some wood. They had no saws 
except their teeth. 

So, with their jaws, they sawed that wood; 

They sawed and jawed, and jawed and sawed, 

While on their poor little heads they stood — 

With feet in air ! 

I do declare, 

’Twas quite a circus to see them do it; 

But they worked on and never knew it. 

At last the wood 
Was sawed; ’twas good; 

They got their pay, 

And went away. 

It seemed a long time to wait till Circus Day, and Billy was 
afraid they would lose their money, so they hid it in the ground, 
when no one was around, and Bennie wrote the directions for 
finding it again : 


The Bugs of Bugly 105 

Out from the church, 

A good large lurch, 

Turn to the right, 

’Till out of sight ; 

There, under the lee. 

Of the flim-flam tree. 

You’ll be sure to find 
The buried mon-ee. 

He wrote a copy of these directions for himself, and one for 
Billy also, on tiny little aspen leaves, which they placed for safe 
keeping close to their little Bug hearts ; and when they felt the flut- 
tering of the aspens on their breasts, they smiled at each other, 
knowing their little secret was all right. 

PART IV 

Little Boo was the smallest Bug in Bugly. He was so tiny 
that he could hide behind a seed and never be seed — excuse me 
— I mean, seen. 

This Little Boo was dressed in blue ; 

In brightest brilliant blue; 

His home was in a buttercup, on 
Wild-flower Avenue; 

His mother was a busy Bug, who 
had a lot to do — 

Herself, and gave another lot to do 
to Boo. 

It was the day of the Circus, and little Boo wanted to go very 
much, but he had no money. He might go and look at the pa- 
rade, and he was so little he thought he might even get one tiny, 
sly, little peek-a-boo into the real Circus. He started down the 
avenue; he was so happy he bistled ; (Bugs cannot whistle — they 
bistle), and he fairly danced a jig! 


io6 


The Bugs of Bugly 


Presently, he heard a sound! Bum! — bum! — rum-a-tum-tum 
— tum-tum! (way down low.) 

Yi-yi — wee-ly, — weely— wee-wee ! (way up high. ) Bum ! bum ! 
(down low.) Yi-yi! (up high.) It was the band! The proces- 
sion was coming! Little Boo ran. Oh! how he ran! He was 
still on Wild-flower Avenue, and had almost reached Round 

Square, where the procession 
was, when something hap- 
pened. 

A great monster, escaping 
from the Circus, dashed into 
the avenue, and completely 
blocked the way! It was the 
Bug-a-boo ! and poor little Boo 
didn’t know what to do! 

At first, little Boo kept very 
quiet and waited for the mon- 
ster to move, but, after awhile, 
he discovered that the Bug-a- 
boo just fitted the street and 
was firmly wedged between 
Mrs. Azubah’s house and the 
church, and either could not, 
or would not, move. 

Then Boo much braver grew. 
And tried to peek-a-boo 
Around the Bug-a-boo; 

But that he could not do. 

He could hear shouting over 
in the square, and he knew they 



The Bugs of Bugly 107 

were trying to get the Bug-a-boo back to the Circus. But the 
minutes went by, and the monster did not move ! Little Boo 
knew he was missing the procession, and he thought of going 
around into another street; but he had a map of Bugly in his 
pocket, and when he consulted it, he found that there was only 
two ways into the square; one was fourteen and two-and-a-half 
tenths Bug miles ; the other, fourteen and two-eighths miles. He 
tried to think which was shorter, but he could not decide in his 
little Bug mind. 

Presently, the church clock struck twelve, and the hour of the 
procession was past. 

Poor little Boo! He sat down in the middle of the street, 
crossed his feet, looked sweet, and said ; “ Anyway, I ’ve got some- 
thing to enjoy ; if I can’t see the whole Circus, I can see the big- 
gest thing in it, all I want to ! ” So he sat for two hours and 
watched the Bug-a-boo ! 

Billy Bug and Bennie Bug had been having lots of fun; they 
saw the procession in the square; Billy’s favorite was the Bug 
Bear, but Bennie’s was the Bug-a-boo until it stuck in the Avenue; 
after that, he liked the Gnu. 

It was now noon. The Circus was to begin at two o’clock in 
the big tent. Billy and Bennie got out their directions and began 
to look for their buried money. They found the Flim-Flam 
tree and began to dig. As the money did not seem willing to be 
found, they got excited and dug way down deep. First, Billy Bug 
dug, then Bennie Bug dug. At first, they threw the dirt to left 
and right, but soon, the pile grew so large about the hole, there 
was no more room, so they made a tunnel and worked abreast, 
and then threw the sand behind them as they went. When two 
o’clock came, they were still digging because the money could 
not be found. 


io8 


The Bugs of Bugly 



The Circus began. Mrs. Azu- 
bah was there in an opera chair, 
and Betsey Bug, with a rug, 
stood near. Mrs. Bethulia Ball 
Bug and Mrs. Bertha Beulah Bug 
sat in the front row. Mr. Bois- 
ter Bug and family represented 
the press. 

Lots of little Bugs was there, 
including Buntie Bug and Binty 
Bug and Buster Bug. 

The Circus began, and Billy 
Bug and Bennie Bug were not 
there. They were still digging. 
Little Boo was not there : he was 
still sitting in the Avenue, on the 
other side of the Bug-a-boo. 

Let us not worry about Billy or 
Bennie, or little Boo. 

There is another chapter to this 
tale. 

In which I assure you without 
fail, 

Everything will come out right, 
as all good stories do. 

PART V. 

The Circus was fairly under 
way ; the Grand Grasshopper 
Galop was over, and the Tum- 
ble Bugs now filled the seven 



The Bugs of Bugly 109 

rings of the arena. Some stood on their heads and kicked their 
legs ; some stood on one leg and whirled like a top ; some turned 
hand-springs, and some, the Clown Bugs, did act so silly ! 

There was one clown who kept falling on his back and kick- 
ing his feet in the air, playing he could not turn over and get 
upon his feet again. 

Buster Bug and Buntie Bug and Binty Bug b-laughed and 
b-laughed, to see his antics ! Then the band played very loud, 
and the Bug-Bear was led in. This was a fearful creature to look 
upon ; all the Lady Bugs squealed and looked very scared. Mrs. 
Azubah Bug squealed twice, and looked the most scared. 

All the little boy Bugs sat up straight and never looked fright- 
ened a bit. 

First, the Bug-Bear climbed a stair. 

And sat in a chair; 

Then, jumped in the air. 

And landed — anywhere ! 

The keeper took good care 
Not to let him dare 
To begin 

To “rare and tear,” 

For fear he might get out of his lair. 

And make havoc, here and there. 

Meanwhile, little Boo, sitting in the Avenue, had grown quite 
well acquainted with the Bug-a-boo. 

“Why don’t you move?” said little Boo. 

“I don’t care to, thank you,” said the Bug-a-boo. “It’s alto- 
gether too much trouble.” 

“But I wish to go by,” said Boo. 

“Couldn’t you climb over?” said Bug-a-boo. 


iio 


The Bugs of Bugly 

“With your permission, I will,” said Boo. 

So, little Boo started, and as he climbed, he had an idea. 
When he reached the head of the Bug-a-boo, he tickled his ear. 

Mr. Bug-a-boo jumped right up, and exclaimed, “Oh! dear!” 

Little Boo held on tight and began to steer, by tickling first 
one, and then the other Bug-a-boo ear ! ! Right into the Circus 
they went, and round and round the ring ! 

And all the people on the seats. 

Began to shout and sing ! 

And all the Circus men came out. 

And did n’t do a thing ! 

For awhile, little Boo showed off the Bug-a-boo. Then he 
drove him to his cage, and returned to receive the plaudits of the 
Bugly multitude. 

Mr. Bugum, the manager, rewarded little Boo, when he had 
told his story, by beginning the Circus all over again, so he would 
not miss any of it. 

But, before the first act began, before even the first note of the 
band had sounded, or even the leader had waved his hands, some- 
thing happened ! 

Right in the very center of all the rings, a little round hole 
appeared and two little Bugs popped out ! 

It was Bennie Bug and Billy Bug, and they had dug from the 
Flim-Flam tree. 

We must leave the little Bugs now, 
at their play ; 

Should you wish to know any 
more. 

You might take a walk, some 
summer day. 


Ill 


The Bugs of Bugly 



I I 2 


The Bugs of Bugly 

Out into the fields, near 
the shore ; 

If you look about a bit, and are very quiet at it, you may find 
Bugly in the grass, quite close to you. 

You may see Billy Bug, and Bennie Bug, and even little Boo. 
But I hope you never will meet that stupid Bug-a-boo ! ! ! 


LELIA AND LULIA LOBSTER 


In the sea-weed room 
Of the salt sea pool. 





ELIA and Lulia went to school i n the sea-weed 
room of the salt sea pool. Mr. Bobster Lobster 
was the teacher. He stood on a big flat stone, 
1=1^ and taught them the song of the sad sea moan. 

After that, the lessons came. 

Lelia and Lulia were in the first grade in color. ' Each one 
had to think of something green and make a complete statement. 

Said Gilli-Billi, “The sea is green.” 

Said Lelia, “I’m green,” 

Then Lulia’s turn came, but she could not think of anything 
green, so she waved her eyes in their handles from side to side ; 
but she was so confused to have them all staring at her, she could 
not see anything except the teacher; so she said timidly, Mr. 
Bobster Lobster is gr-e-en.” 

He was, but he didn’t like to be told of it. He clacked the 
jaw at the end of his claw, and Lulia was the most frightened 
little Lobster you ever saw ! She cried real wet, salt tears all the 
way from school, but when she reached home, her mother reprov- 
ingly said, “ It is foolish, my dear, to cry, for the ocean is full of 
the very wettest, saltest tears, and yours are useless; if you must 
cry, go up on the dry land and water the parched vegetation.” 

Then the mother served each of her little daughters with a 
pearly shell plate, full of delicious dulce, and Lulia was soon as 
happy as Lelia. 

The next day, at school, they learned another color. “Red,” 
said Mr. Bobster, “is the dread color. You may not understand 



Lelia and Lulia Lobster 


1 16 

it now, but it always comes to you after you are boiled. My ad- 
vice is, to shun red.” 

Lelia and Lulia attended school every day, and they soon 
learned everything that Lobsters should. They practised sea- 
weed and rock-hiding, claw and tail swimming ; they grew skilled 
in water flitting and mud sitting, they learned the art of crawling 
without sprawling, and trawling without falling. 

One day, when they were quite big and strong, they took a 
long, long crawl from their home, — out — out — into the deep, 
deep sea. They passed thro’ many sea- weed fields, and under the 
shadow of some mighty rocks. They admired the lovely gardens 
of delicately colored sea-anemonies, and, at every step they took 
in good, long breaths of the nice fresh — (I mean) — salt-water. 

They had a beautiful walk and were just on the point of turning 
back toward home, when they espied a new and strange object, 
made of laths and netting. 

“It looks,” said Lelia, “like a new kind of home.” 

It was the lobster-pot, altho’ they knew it not. Then they 
both smelled the delicious odor of a well-prepared lunch. 

“Let us go in,” said Lulia, “the door is invitingly open!” 

They went in and ate their lunch. 

Then, — they could not find the way out. They searched 
everywhere for an opening, but bars of wood seemed to be on 
every side. 

“How we got in,” said Lelia, “seems like magic!” 

“Not to get out,” said Lulia, “is decidely tragic!” 

Day went, night came; then, at last, night changed to dawn, 
and still the two little Lobsters tugged at the bars, and found no 
way out. 

When the sun was up, they heard the noise of oars over their 
heads, and the shadow of a great boat surrounded them. 


Lelia and Lulia Lobster 


117 


“Perhaps,” Lelia said, 

“It’s the fisherman dread. 

Who’ll boil us red.” 

“We’re slowly rising up, I fear,” 

Said Lulia, “Good-by, sister dear, 

I think the end is very near.” 

But the fisherman, when he had raised the Lob- 
srcr-pot to the boat, and opened it, looked disgusted ! 

“Two, and both too short!” 

So saying, he took Lelia and Lulia and dropped 
them back into the sea ! 

How glad they were to be free again ! ! 

On their way home, they met Gilli-Billi, and 
told him their story. 

“Well! well!” said Gilli-Billi, “I see now that it 
is better for a Lobster to be short, for, if you are not 
short, you are sure to be-long to the fisherman. 
Y ou are lucky girls, I think, for if 
the fisherman was short of Lob- 
sters, he would not be long 
taking you, — 
short or long.” 

That ’s the 
long and short 
of it I ! I 







NINNY, NANNY, AND NATTY 


Play is work, and Work is play, — 
When you change them round that way. 









1*& 'Mi- 




NINNY. . 
NANNY '• 
^NATTY 






INNY GNIT flew quickly to a dandelion puff, 
' 1 and seated herself comfortably in the midst of 
seventy fuzzes. She was tired and no wonder ! 
She had danced round and in seventy-nine flow- 
ers ; she had pranced down and up four hundred 
and fifty-one blades of grass ; she had bobbed over and under nine 
hundred and sixty-three leaves of trees; and her delicate gauzy 
wings were so tired, they had creases. The dandelion fuzzes felt 
so soft, she took a nap. 

Three showers came and went ; still she slept. The seventy 
fuzzes grew wet, and they stuck together. 

When Ninny Gnit awakened, she found herself within a cage 
of damp fuzz, moreover, her wings were wet, and she could not 
fly. 


“This is, indeed,” she whimpered, “a sorry plight/* 

But that moment, her sister, Nanny Gnat, flew in sight. Now 
Nanny Gnat was very fat, but she was dry, for she had been be- 
neath a leaf, when the showers spit-spat by. She stopped to 
speak to Ninny Gnit. 

“Nice day,” said Nanny Gnat, so fat and dry. 

“Horrible weather!” cried Ninny Gnit, so thin and wet. 

Just then, Mr. Sun came smilling out from behind a cloud, 
with such a hot face that Nanny Gnat fell flat. She cried, “ I am 
so fat, I can’t endure such heat as that! ” 


122 


Ninny, Nanny, and Natty 

But the seventy fuzzes dried very quickly, and Ninny Gnit 
flew out, again quite happy. 

“Fine day, isn’t it?” cried thin Ninny Gnit, 

As she fluttered and flit about a bit. 

And picked out a petal on which to sit, 

“Horrible weather!” replied fat Nanny Gnat; 

“ This heat will completely lay me flat ; 

Ah ! here’s a chip ! I must crawl under that.” 

Now, it happened that all these opinions of the weather that 
Ninny and Nanny remarked to each other, were overheard by 
another — no other than their little brother. Natty Gnit-Gnat. 

Now, Natty was a happy little chap, who never cared a rap 
for heat or rain. He always looked out for himself, the merry, 
busy little elf, and no Gnit-Gnat ever heard him complain. 

In the sunshine, in the shade, o’er the meadow, thro’ the glade, 
— he was always busy, bobbing here and there. If the sun was 
too hot, he would hide, and bide his time. If the rain wet his 
wings, he would dry them with great care. 

When little Natty Gnit-Gnat heard his sisters thus complain, 
he stopped a moment, his composure to regain ; and then he gave 
them some advice. 

“ Never mind the kind of weather. 

Wind, or rain, or both together. 

Are as useful as the sun ; 

Get you bibby-bobbing done; 

Put your mind upon your work. 

Work your play, and play your work. 

And you ’ll never notice whether 
There are storms, or pleasant weather!” 

This made such a pretty song, that Ninny and Nanny learned 


Ninny, Nanny, and Natty 123 

to sing it, and then they taught it to all the Gnit-Gnat-Gnitties 
they knew. 

This is the reason why, if you meet ten thousand Gnittie-Gnats 
on a summer’s day, you will hear them always humming, 

“Never mind the kind of weather, — 

Get your bibby-bobbing done I ” 







THE SWANS 


“For in spite of wind or weather, 

Or any other why or whether, — 
We ’ll just play that we don’t mind. 
Any ill of any kind.” 





ING Swain Swan and Queen Sween Swan 
were very forlorn, for the days were growing 
short, the nights were growing long, the 
winter’s chill was coming on, and they knew 
not where to find the shelter of the long, 
sweeping, evergreen branches that touch the water’s edge. 

One very frosty morn, at dawn, they stood near the sedge at 
the edge of the pond in the park, and thus conversed ; 

Said King Swain, “ My sweet Queen Sween, our fate is very sad, 
I wean ; we do not wish to stay, we cannot fly away ; and if we 
swam all day, round and round the pond, we ’d be back here at 
night, in just the same old plight. I own that I am balked ! ” 
Then answered sweet Queen Sween, “ My dear, I ’m really 
shocked — if what you say is true ! I know not what to do ; un- 
less, in spite of wind or weather, or any other why or whether, 
we just play that we don’t mind any ill of any kind — just go on 
being Queen and King, and hold our court each day till spring.” 
Said King Swain: 

“Here, 

My dear, 

On this mere, 

Your words of cheer 
Drive out all fear ; 

Our path of duty ’s very clear; 

We’ll hold our court, at once, my dear.” 


128 


The Swans 


They shook their beautiful, fiiffy, fluffy, feather robes of state, 
and gracefully arched their royal necks, and slipped from off the 
brink of the bank, into the pond. 

They tipped and dipped upon the water, and flapped and flipped 
their wings, and as they skimmed and skipped along, they sipped 
a bit of water, or nipped a slip of grass. 

Soon, seventeen swift-swimming swans swam to join the royal 
pair, who graciously received their court, and led, at once, the 
royal sport. 

First came the grand water march, or proud-paddling prome- 
nade. The good Queen Sween went close behind the brave King 
Swain, and all the other swain and sween swans followed in their 
train. 

All the morning long, they circled and they wheeled about. 
They wandered here and there. They could not find much lunch 
to munch, for meagre was the farel Dark and gloomy was the day, 
and nipping cold, the air ; but, so proudly and so bravely marched 
ahead the royal pair, all the common swain and sween swans 
could but follow, storm or fair. 

Noon came, and, with it, the miracle — 

The miracle of the snow! 

Out of the deep gray of the sky, millions of tiny pearl-drops, 
minature diamonds and feathery crystals, floated and fluttered down 
to the earth. 

“Behold!” said King Swain Swan, “the sky sends its jewels to 
decorate our royal robes, and make them more beautiful and daz- 
zling white ! ” 

“And,” cried Queen Sween Swan, “we shall be warmer and 
happier now. Let us go to the edge, where the sedge is warm 
and dry. Let us curl our feet for sleep, while the jewels still are 


The Swans 


129 

falling from the sky ; and, if patiently we wait, we shall improve 
our royal state, with a nice, warm blanket by and by.” 

It all happened just as the good Queen said, and ere long, in a 
nice, warm bed, each was asleep. 

The next morning, King Swain Swan arose, and, after shaking 
his downy covering from him, made a pleasant discovery. 

“Oh! sweet Queen Sween,” he cried, “awake! Give yourself a 
shake, and take a look around ! See ! over there, upon the snowy 
ground ! ’ T is food ! Right royal swain and sween swan food 

— and plenty for us all ! And then, look there ! Beneath that 
tree, a shelter, built of boards ! A right royal winter swain-sween- 
swan palace — with room for all our court ! ! ” 

“Yes,” said Queen Sween, opening one sleepy eye, — “I felt 
sure the human creatures that placed us in this park would care 
for us. In the great freedom of the world, we can look out for 
ourselves, but, in this little narrow park, we should perish, if it 
were not for our kind friend, called — man ! ” 



SPINK HOPPIE 


“You can’t learn to jump very high or spry. 
Unless you begin quite low and slow.” 






SPINK HOPP1E 



NE day in July, the sun was so hot, Spink Hop- 
pie, the little grass-grown, grass-green grasshopper, 
tried to hide in the grass. 

When he had hopped about for some time look- 
ing for a good shady place, he said, — “ It ’s useless 
to try, the grass is so dry ; I ’ll skip to that rye I espy, close by. 
I should judge, by my eye, that the rye is quite high, — almost up 
to the sky. In its shade, I will lie.” 

Spink Hoppie hopped spry, and tried to lie under the high 
rye, but real shade he could not find, so he determined to be 
brave and sing, the better the heat not to mind. 

“I have always noticed,” he said, “that when I sing long 
enough, either the night or a shower comes.” 

With his front feet he firmly grabbed a crab-grass, and with 
his hind legs, he sang his long, strong, piercing song of “ Tzip- 
tzip-tzip-tze-e-e-eee ! ! 

It grew hotter and hotter; 

He sang louder and louder; 

In the midst of the rye, so tall and yellow. 

Sang brave little Spink, poor little green fellow ! 


He was just beginning “Tzee,” number three hundred and 
thirty-three, when something hit Spink, a-tink, on the head. It 
was a sneeze-weed seed, and it startled Spink, indeed. He 



134 


Spink Hoppie 

looked round quickly, and seeing his sister coming, he said, — 

“Who threw? Did you, Judy?” 

Judy hopped high, round a stalk of rye. 

“Not I,” she said “but, Spink — I think ,” and a voice 

from up high, in the rye, said, — “ Katy did ! ! ! ” 

’T was Spink’s and Judy’s cousin Katy, known thro’ all the 
green-grass land as Katy Did; for she was such an honest little 
lady, that, whenever she did any mischief, which was quite often, 
she always owned right up to it, and said, in a good plain voice, 
“ Katy did it ! Katy did ! Katy did ! ! ” 

It was growing cooler now, and sister Judy Hoppie and Cousin 
Katy Did, had come for Spink to go to the green-grasshopper, 
green-grass games. 

There were to be great contests, and Spink was hoping to win 
in two — the sky-high jump, and the long-strong hop. 

As the three, hopping happily and hopefully together, ap- 
proached the green-grasshopper, green-grass game, green-grass 
plot, a wonderful sight met their eyes. 

Thousands of Hoppies, of every size, were already seated in 
their places, with grave, expectant faces, waiting patiently for the 
races. 

It was a beautiful scene. Their suits of shining green glistened 
in the rays of the setting sun, and they sat in bunches, and ate 
green lunches, every one. While waiting for the contests to be- 
gin, they chewed the green-grass chairs they happened to be in. 

Judy chose a chair or two, to sit and chew, and Katy did as 
she was bid, and chose another green-grass chair to chew, just as 
she saw Judy do. 

But Spink went at once to the starting point, 

And began to examine every joint ; 

And just to see if his legs would work, 


1 35 


Spink Hoppie 


He gave them a turn, a twist, and a jerk. 

He rubbed himself over, and polished his knees. 

And found he could jump with greatest ease. 

An old Cicada was referee. He sat on a thistle and blew his 
whistle, and the ‘‘sky-high jump- 
ers” stood in line, with Spink 
among them, looking fine. 

There was much applause, and 
then — a-pause. 

“One — two — three — tzee! ” 
said the referee. And, at the 
word “tzee,” the jovial jumpers 
began to jump in greatest glee. 

At first, the hurdles were low, 
and easy to scale, and all went 
over without fail ; but, as the hur- 
dles got higher and higher, some 
of the hoppers began to perspire, 
and, one by one, to drop behind. 

But Spink kept on and didn’t 
mind ! 





i3 6 


Spink Hoppie 

At hurdle one hundred and twenty-three. 

Only Spinky the plucky and Whizzy-Ghee 
Remained in place, to finish the race. 

And Whizzy-Ghee was black in the face ! 

Hurdle one hundred and twenty-four was very high — four feet 
or more ; Whizzy-Ghee bumped his knee, and made it sore. He 
jumped no more. But Spink ? Spink sprang up with all his might, 
so spry, so high, most out of sight, that when he really did alight, 
he’d crossed two hurdles in his flight — and — the race was won! 
Then “tzees” and cheers rent the air. 

And every Grasshopper stood on a chair. 

And waved his arms and antenna too ; 

And Judy didn’t know what to do ! 

But she waved her arms and antenna, too. 

And, whatever she saw Judy do, 

Katy did! 

But dear little, modest little, gentle Spink was so surprised at 
being the cause of so much applause — what do you think Spink did ? 
He actually ran away and hid, and Judy knew just how he felt, 
and Katy did ! ! ! 

After Spink had a little think, he came back and received the 
medal for winning the sky-high hurdle jump. 

Then he withdrew from the contest of the long-strong hop, be- 
cause, as he said, one prize was enough for him in a day, and some 
one else ought to have the chance. 

So he stood by and watched the fun, 

And tzee’d and cheered when others won. 

The games were ended. 

The sun was set; 

The moon was up. 

The grass was wet. 


Spink Hoppie 137 

Spink and Judy and Cousin Kate happily hopped thro’ the gar- 
den gate, and went to bed in the pansy bed. 

But Judy could not sleep a wink; 

She said, “ Oh ! Spink ! I think and think ! 

But I can’t see how you jumped so high ! 

I never could if I should try ! ” 

Said Spink: “’T was practice. Long ago. 

When first the rye began to grow. 

And the little green blades were very low, 

I jumped each day as high as the rye; 

And, as it grew, my jumps grew too ! 

Now — if the rye should grow to the sky. 

Why! I should just try to jump that high ! 

But, Judy, ’tis true, whatever you do, 

(And this you really ought to know,) 

You can’t learn to jump very high or spry. 
Unless you begin quite low — and slow! ” 











TULA OF TURTLEDOM 


A ready wit and willing jog 

May help the whole world turn a cog. 







URTLEDOM was in the great Puddlemud 
Swamp, near the place where Saltsy Creek 
meets and greets Fresh Water Flow. 

While the warm spring sunshine was calling the grass and 
waking the buds, the Turtles of Turtledom, little and big, came 
tumbling out of their beds of mud, for breakfast. 

Tula was always the liveliest one, so she was first out in the 
sun. Then followed Tuska Loo Loo, and Kalama Zoo Zoo, — 
Sandusky Ky Ky, and Timbuc Too Too, too. 

Old Timothy Tortoise, who remembered “the forties,” was 
most as spry as the younger fry. 

Soon, Turtledom was all ahum with the busy round of spring- 
time fun. The gentle Lady Too Ra Loo, her yellow jewels 
bright as new, made mudful splashes in the Plashes ! And Tot, 
the tiniest Turtle of the lot, with a pretty coat of speck and spot, 
was making rushes thro’ the Rushes, and little fancy, prancy 
dances, called “Going as You Please,” where the tallest tassel 
grasses tussel with the breeze. 

But wee, sleepy Tud was still in bed cuddled; 

I think, by the mud, he was somewhat muddled ; 

“Come out — have a bud,” cried Tula to Tud; 

But he stayed in the mud, and in his hut, huddled ! 

Then Tula stood upon the highest ground to be found, 
stretched her neck, and looked around. “Where’s Toddles?” she 
cried, but no one replied, for no one spied Toddles, and when all 


141 


142 


Tula of Turtledom 


began to poke around, no trace of Toddles could be found. “ Per- 
haps,” cried Tula, “he’s hiding away ! Come Toddles, — come 
Toddles— come out and play ! ” When no Toddles appeared, Tula, 
and the others, feared the dear little Toddles had toddled, — and 
so, strayed away. 

Said Mr. Timothy, “Way back in the forties, my dear little 
brother, Tiddledum Tortoise, strayed away, and to this day, I 
really don’t know what his lot is.” 

At these words, Tula’s heart sank, and, the same time, her feet 
sank into the dark, dank damp bank ; but she cheerfully changed 
her position, — and — the subject ! 

“ Above my head, the Cat-tails nod their heads, — stop, — that ’s 
not right, — tails don’t nod — they wag\ Above my head, the 
Cat-tails wag their heads , — no — that ’s worse than before, — tails 
don t wag heads / All I know is, above my head, the Cat-tail’s 
heads are wagging or nodding , at this very moment ! Oh dear, 
words are very confusing ; but I will now invent a conundrum ; 
— Mr. Timothy, can you tell me why a Pussy Willow is not a 
real pussy ?” 

“Yes,” said Mr. Timothy, “a Pussy Willow is not a real pussy, 
because a cat-kin isn’t akin to a cat ! ” 

Tula was so pleased to get an answer to her conundrum, she 
wanted to ask a hundred more at once. “ Perhaps, Mr. Timothy, 
you are so old, you know why the winter is cold? ” 

Mr. Timothy wagged his head from side to side, and stretched 
his neck, and rubbed his nose till he made it flat, and then he said, 
“I know everything else but that.” 

“Then tell me,” cried Tula, “why is a mud-flat flat?” 

Mr. Timothy tried to think, but he was very slow; “In an 
hour or more,” he said, “I’m sure that I should know; I can’t 


Tula of Turtledom 


143 


think in a short, quick wink; — 

My motto is, — 

*Go Slow.’ ” 

At that very moment, things began to happen. From out the 
great Commotion Ocean arose the fearful Fin Flap Flopper Fish, 
who came a-swoosh, a-swash, a-swish, into the creek. 

All the Turtledom Turtles hid as quick as a wink, except Mr. 
Timothy ; all he did was to stop and think, and before he could 
make up his mind in the mud to sink, the monster fish came 
with a rush and pulled him over the brink. 

This awful mishap made all the Turtles unhappy, but tiny Tot, 
was especially sad. “He was my second cousin’s uncle’s great- 
grandfather’s friend, and the only real relative I had ! ” 

“Don’t worry. Tot,” cried Tula, — “he will come back some 
day ; he ’s very old and knows a lot ; he ought to find a way ! ” 

This happened at eight ; at half-past eight, sad to relate, with- 
out a word of warning. Old Hookbeak Balder swooped down 
from the blue, and snatched up quickly as he flew, — Tuska Loo 
Loo and Kalama Zoo Zoo, Sandusky Ky Ky, and poor old Tim- 
buc Too Too, — too. 

“ Oh ! dear ! ” cried Tot. 

“ I fear my lot 
Will be as sad. 

For I ’ve been bad! 

I threw some mud 
At sleepy Tud ! ” 

But Tula only shook her head and said, “We’ll see; but in the 
meantime, stick by me.” 

At half-past nine, Tula and Tot attempted to dine, but dine 
they did not; for they saw approaching the Tidal Gloo, who 


144 


Tula of Turtledom 


seized the Lady Too Ra Loo, and bore her up Fresh Water Flow, 
beyond the Lake of Lucky Leaf, into a region strange and new. 

I ’m afraid,” cried Tot, “’twill be my lot to be carried off by 
the Tidal Gloo ! ” 

“Now Tot,” said Tula, “we are all alone, except for Tud, 
still asleep in the mud; but we can’t meach and mope and moan; 
for, come what will, or come what may, there’s work for us to do 
to-day. First, we’ll bite the spiney reeds, till they fall into the 
pool and make a lacey lattice to keep the babies’ bedroom cool.” 

(There were twelve Turtle babies, such wee, weak wigglers, 
that they had never been out; since their mother, the Lady Too 
Ra Loo, was gone, Tula knew that she must look out for them. 
By this time we began to realize that Tula was not an ordinary 
turtle. ) 

Tula worked well. Tot worked quite well for a little fellow. 
When they had finished, it was half-past ten, and once again they 
tried to dine; but — plimp! plomp ! — two pebbles went plump into 
the water near their feet. 

Both Tula and Tot shut up house, and began to await their 
fate. 

A two-legged monster, with rolled-up trousers, splashed into 
the stream, and, seeing the two pretty, dark-brown, yellow- 
spotted shell houses, took them up and put them in a tin pail. 

“Tula,” whispered Tot, with a whimpering, weepy wail, “we 
are shut up tight in a tin pail jail ! ” 

“ Don’t worry. Tot,” replied Tula, “there’s such a thing as bail 
to help folks out of jail, — and every tin pail jail has a tin pail bail ; 
— I ’ll get you out of this, without fail.” 

PART II 

Rattled and rolled, — battered and bumped, joggled and jolted, — 


Tula of Turtledom 


!45 


tumbled and thumped, — poor little Tot and poor little Tula! It 
was fortunate they always wore their houses for clothes, for, with a 
good hard shell house on its back, and all the doors shut tight, the 
scaredest little turtle tot can get safely thro’ a plight. 

In the Turtle-To-Do Book, there is a rule that reads, — 

“When in doubt, shut up; 

While in doubt, keep shut ! ” 

All thro’ the long jiggly, joggly, jolty, jouncy journey, — the two 
kept shut. 

When the tin pail jail finally rested on a barn floor, Tot opened 
his front window and peeked with one eye. “Tula,” he whis- 
pered, “now the trouble’s over.” 

But it wasn’t, for the two-legged monster began to pry and 
pick and poke them with a stick. But they wouldn’t budge a 
mite, and still kept shut tight. 

It was a teasing, tickling, tormenting kind ot a boy who did 
everything he could, the turtles to annoy, but they merely minded 
the rule ! 

At last, the boy to himself said, “They’re hungry! I don’t 
know what they eat, but I ’ll give them some bread.” 

He did. 

But Tula and Tot know quite a lot, and, altho’ they were very 
hungry, having eaten only once in five months, neither of them 
would risk a head, to snatch the smallest bite of bread, — and — 
just — kept — shut up tight ! ! ! 

At last, the boy went away and it was night. Then Tula put out 
head and feet, and tried with all her might to scale the smooth and 
slippery sides of the tin pail jail; but, every time she’d nearly 
scrambled to the top, she’d fall back on her back, kerflop, — and 
Tot would have to help her to get right side up. 


146 


Tula of Turtledom 





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Tula of Turtledom 


147 



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148 


Tula of Turtledom 


She tried again, and yet again — and every time she’d fail; she 
couldn’t seem to reach the upper edge of jail, and, as for getting 
hold of any kind of bail, — the tin pail kind was all outside the 
pail \ and any other kind was quite outside her p-a-l-e. 

But — at midnight, — help came ! S. W. Whiskers, — the old 
grey rat, gnawed thro’ the barn floor, — to explore, — smelt the 
bread in the pail, — jumped on the edge, — saw the two Turtles 
within, — and dodged away. 

“Tot,” whispered Tula, “take hold my tail, keep very still, but 
clasp it tight; and whatever happens, don’t let go, until I say 
* all right.’ ” 

Tot obeyed. 

Outside the pail sat S. W. (Six White), — sniffing, — but cau- 
tious. His hunger grew stronger, the longer he sniffed. At last, 
— he jumped into the pail, seized the bread, and prepared the tin 
wall to rescale, — but Tula had him by the tail ! 

He gave a jump, and a rattle-ty bump, — and the two little tur- 
tles were out of jail. 

“Yi! Yi!” cried the rat, and ran away. 

“Tot — let go,” said Tula. 

But Tot knew he was right, so he still held on Tula tight. 

“Tot — we are safe now” — then Tula remembered and said 
quickly “All right”, and Tot let go; — but slyly he said, “Tula, 
if you had told me to hold on till you said * Four and twenty 
black — bean-porridge hot — cross buns, I should have held on till 
you remembered to say * four and twenty,’ etc. ! ” 

“I suppose,” said Tula, “as I am general, I mustn’t give com- 
mands and then forget them. Anyway, we’re out of jail ! ” 

“It seems to me,” cried Tiny Tot, 

“ When fate provides a sorry lot, 


Tula of Turtledom 


149 


Unjustly, in a tin-pail jail; 

When all your struggles to get bail 

So ignominiously do fail 

That, with fear, your heart doth quail, 

You’ re saved at last by the old rat- tail ! ” 

PART III. 

When Tula and Tot had left the barn, and crossed the lot» 
Tula raised her head high into the air, and began to sing, with a 
lofty air, in a very high key, an original air : 

“To Turtledom, I fain would hie! 

Oh ! whither, whither, doth it lie ? 

I cannot see it with my eye — 

I cannot hear it, far or nigh ; 

I cannot feel it is close by, 

I cannot taste it, if I try, — 

But I can smell it ! My ! oh ! my ! 

(Refrain.) 

“My! oh! my! oh! my! oh! my!!!” 

MY!!! 

Oh!!! MYYYYll!” 

“ How far is it?” anxiously asked Tot. 

It’s hard to tell, but I think by the smell, if I can judge — well 
— a million jogs ! ” 

“Mud-Turtle jogs?” inquired Tot. 

“Yes,” answered Tula, “ that ’s quite a lot, but we’ll do only 
one jog at a time, and never think of the other nine hundred nine- 
ty-nine — thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine.” 

So they started. 


i5o 


Tula of Turtledom 


At this point in the story, Tula and Tot began that famous 
journey known in the History of Turtledom, as “The Most Mar- 
vellous Mud Turtle Manoeuvre.” 

’Twas two jogs under the fence, and four jogs over the path, 
eight thro’ the hedge, and sixteen across the grass; thirty-two car- 
ried them over the road, and in sixty-four more, the thicket was 
passed. It took one hundred and twenty-eight to reach the heavy 
sagging meadow-gate, and then they proceeded at just the same 
g-a-i-t, to jog two hundred and fifty-six more, and, entering the 
wood where the jogging was good, — the five hundred and twelve 
were quickly done. 

Said Tula to Tot, — “This is lots of fun ! 

Each jog to come, is double the one that ’s done ! 

While we’re doing our jogging, we’re doing a sum.” 

Whined little Tot, — “I wish I was home ! 

It ’s a too big jog, and a too big sum ! ” 

But Tula cheerfully coaxed her chum. 

And jogged ahead, and turned and said, — 

“Each jog that’s jogged, is done , so cornel” 

Nowon they go, — over the pine pins, under the pines, — now a 
short turn thro ’ the sweet fern ; across the moist moss, by the high 
grass that grows thick, and the thorny thicket — taking several 
climbs over wild woodbines, and a straggling scrambles midst 
blackberry vines, and “bread and butter,” full of spines; under 
the willows, across the bog, the gravel bed, and the bayberry 
scrub, — and — at — 1 -a-s-t — they come to the Juniper Tree that 
stands alone just under the lea of the sandiest dune that borders 
the sea, at exactly (by Turtle time), a ninth past four, and reached 
jog number 518144! 


Tula of Turtledom 


151 

Poor little tired Tot cried, — “I can jog no more; 

I’ve carried my house till my feet are sore; 

And my soul is sad and my soles are sore ; 

I could n’t go on had I wings to soar ; 

Good-bye — go on — I could jog no more 

If the earth were smooth as a gliss-glass floor ; 

Give my love to the others when your journey ’s o’er.” 

But Tula made a little pile of soft green leaves and helped Tot 
into bed, — and then she sweetly sang, or rather, sweetly said, — 

“Go to sleep. Tot, 

And rest. 

While the sun is 
In the west ; 

Do not wake, Tot, 

At least, 

Till the sun is 

In the east.” 

As soon as Tot was sleeping sound in the lap of a nap, Tula 
mounted a stump to keep guard, and, looking seaward, was much 
amused to behold the Great Fin Flap Flopper Fish cutting up a 
gigantic and frantic antic in the Atlantic 1 

“I should judge” said Tula to herself, “Mr. Timothy is still 
inside, but I think, by the signs, that Mr. F. F. F. Fish will let 
Mr. T. out soon. I hope he will beach Mr. Timothy on this 
beach, within reach, that he may have my company home; Mr. 
T. is getting old now, and needs some one to lead ’ 

“How do, Tula?” said a voice above her head. 

Tula looked up. “Who is it?” she said. 

“It ’s I — Tuska Loo Loo, — up here, in the top of the Juniper, 


152 


Tula of Turtledom 


— in old Mrs. Hookbeak Balder’s nest.” 

“Tuska Loo Loo, — is it really you?” 

“Yes — I ’m here,” cried Tuska Loo Loo, “and here ’s Kalama 
Zoo Zoo, and Sandusky Ky Ky, and poor old Timbuc Too Too, 
too.” 

“But how,” exclaimed Tula, “did you ever get way up there?” 

“Old Balder brought us to this nest 
To feed the baby Balders with; 

But we were found too tough to digest. 

And, — so, — they had to let us live. 

We were so crowded in this bed, 

With four at foot, and four at head, 

They tried to push us out of bed, — 

But we just pushed them out, — instead ! 

Now, Tula dear, this nest is high, and if we jump, we ’ll bump 
and die, — 

Since none of us know how to fly, we think it safer not to try; 

So half-way up, ’twixt earth and sky, on Balder’s bed we ’ll have 
to lie, — 

Till all the rivers shall run dry; unless, dear Tula, you will tell us 
quickly what to do; 

Oh! can’t you, Tula dear? Oh do! — please try!” 

All Tula said was, — “Drop something!” 

“Here’s a pebble,” said Tuska Loo Loo, — “will that do?” 
“Yes!” 

K e r plop !! ! 

Tula watched the pebble drop, and on the very spot, when it 
touched the earth, she made a 6-turtle high mound of soft, fine 
sand. Then she covered that 5-turtle deep with green moss, — 
upon that, she made a layer 4-turtle thick of dead grass; next, a 


Tula of Turtledom 


1 53 


3-turtle covering of loose leaves, then a 2-turtle layer of minute 
pieces of pith of reeds, — and last, she placed a 1 -turtle deep layer 
of white silky, fluffy milkweed down which she carefully gath- 
ered from 1 7 bulging pods. 

All this took time, but when it was done, the mound was very 
high, very soft, and very bouncey. Tula was very tired, but, 
without waiting to rest, she looked up at the nest and said, “All 
ready — drop ! ” 

Then Tuska Loo Loo dropped into the very middle of the 
mound, all safe and sound, and crawled out on the ground; and 
then Kalama Zoo Zoo dropped too, and Sandusky Ky Ky too, 
and — poor old Timbuc Too Too — likewise! 

But poor old Timbuc Too Too fell on his back, with such aloud 
whack, it waked from his sound nap wee tired Tot, who started 
up and exclaimed on the spot: “ Never mind — I don’t care — I’m 
rested a lot ; I ’m all ready to join the joyful homeward jig-jog 
trot.” 

Then headstrong Tula, ahead, with head in the air, — head on, 
plunged headlong toward home, and the five followed. 

When each had gone linn jogs, or all six together had 
accomplished 666666, they came to Ridge Bridge, which cros- 
ses over Rapid Ripple River. 

Tula — ahead — saw the the little hole in the plank, and easily 
went around it, but Tuska Loo Loo fell thro’, then, of course, 
Kalama Zoo Zoo did too, and, Sandusky Ky, Ky, hurrying on 
behind, fairly flew thro’, and poor old Timbuc Too Too fell 
thro’, too, — but Tot, the last of the lot, had more sense, and stood 
on the brink till he had time to think. 

“ Perhaps I’d better fall thro’ too,” cried Tot. 

Then Tula, plodding on ahead, turned, and said, “ Stop ! you 
must not ! ” 


1 54 


Tula of Turtledom 


Now Tot did n’t mean to fuss and fret, but the river looked 
so invitingly wet, — 

“I will fall thro’ ! ” cried Tot. 

“You shall not ! ” 

“Why not?” 

“I’ll tell you. In the ‘Turtle-To-Do,’ or ‘Best-To-Be-Done’- 
book, there’s a rule that Turtles should never forget, — 

‘To smell well, — 

Keep your head high. 

Your eye on the sky, 

And your feet dry.’ 

We are just half way home now, and if you fell pell-mell into 
Rapid Ripple River, I foretell you won’t be able to smell well 
enough to tell which way you dwell, for a spell.” 

“Tula,” cried Tot, “I’ll stand by you and the ‘Turtle-To- 
Do,’ and whatever you tell me to do, I ’ll do ! ” 

PART IV. 

Meantime T. Loo Loo, K. Zoo Zoo, S. Ky Ky, and Tim. 
Too Too were swimming with all their might in Rapid Ripple 
River, right under the hole they fell thro’. 

If they had stopped to rest, R. R. River would carry them on 
his breast, down to the sea, and the sea would toss them from 
crest to crest. 

Said T. Loo Loo to K. Zoo Zoo: “If we swim just right with 
all our might, and keep it up all night, we may be able by 
morning light to find a way out of this plight.” 

They did the best they could, and all they could, but it didn’t 
seem to do much good, for R. R. River flowed down stream just 
as fast as they swam up stream, and, of course, they remained in 
exactly the same position. 


Tula of Turtledom 


1 55 

Tula saw their plight and was making a plan to help them, 
when she observed, floating on the stream, something green. 

“Can it be?” she cried; “I hope it’s not a sham! No! it 
really , surely is, a Turtle Telegram ! ” 

Tot read the leaf-bitten message too, — “ Can you help her, 
Tula?” 

Tula was about to answer, when there was a sound of swoosh, 
swash, and swish; it was Mr. Fin Flap Flopper Fish, who had 
come up the river a little too far, and was now between the 
banks, stuck tight! 

“Tot,” said Tula, “come with me, into the dell; I’ve a plan 
you mustn’t tell, — but if it’s right, and all works well. I’ll get 
each of the six out of their fix. 

The plan that I ’m about to try, will make the R. R. River 
dry. I never made a river dry — I don’t know how, but I can 
try!” 

“Tula!” cried Tot, “how can you do it?” 

“By pluck and grit, and sticking to it . ” 

Now Tula, leaving Tot upon the bridge to keep watch and 
help in any way possible — leaving the four in their swimming 
plight, — and leaving Mr. Timothy in his “out-of-sight” plight; 
— now Tula starts on that long and tiresome journey, known in 
the History of Turtledom as “The Greatest Four-footed Feat.’* 

In that book, an account is made of the thousands of rough and 
tough tumbles over bogs, and the myriad mad scrambles over logs ; 
of all the tremendous tussles with tangled thickets, and the many 
meetings with mournful mishaps. 

The History of Turtledom is a very large book of 1234567890 
pages, with about 12345 devoted to “Tula the Great,” but I 
have not time to translate much of it, — (Turtlish being very hard 


Tula of Turtledom 


156 

to make into English, much harder than Spanish, or even “ Gib- 
berish”), — so — altho’ we know little Tula had thumps and bumps 
and troubles in plenty, we also know she was so brave and deter- 
mined she wouldn’t turn back for anything whatever, and, in the 
course of time, in her journey, following the course of R. R. 
River, she came, at last, to Pond Lily Lily-Pond. 

The Lily Ladies, with pallid, perfumed faces and glistening 
golden tresses, were all tossing their heads proudly as if to say, 
‘‘Admire me!” but Tula could only stop long enough to climb a 
rock by the side of the pond, take a megaphone lying near — (this 
was a Jack-in-the-Pulpit; Tula pulled Jack out, and used the 
Pulpit) — and say, in a very loud tone, so all could hear her: 
“ Gentle Lily Ladies all, forgive me for what I shall soon do to 
you, but remember when the water goes down, and your heads 
slowly sink till they rest on your feet, — remember then to cover 
your heads with your brown hoods, and go to sleep. Take my 
advice, and all will be well.” 

So saying, Tula left the rock, and began at once to follow the 
west bank of Brook Brother Twin Twister. 

There are nine “twists and turns” in Brother Twin Twister, 
each one smaller as you get nearer Gloo ; at the first turn, T ula 
saw a boy fishing for trout, and had to go a long way about; — she 
had no wish to encounter another boy at the second turning, a 
campfire was burning ; she had to go around that ; at the third 
bend of the brook, she suddenly overtook the cross old River 
Snapper, who turned and was about to snap at her, when Tula, 
having her wits about her, said politely, — “ How do — perfect 
weather, isn’t it?” and hurried on as fast as she could patter. 

The old River Snapper was so astonished (not being used to 
polite society), he merely stood still, and forgot to snap at her. 

At the 4th turn, a Tern flew up from the fern; at the 5th, a 


Tula of Turtledom 


157 

Mole was making a hole, but Tula saw it just in time, and saved 
herself a fall. 

It was very fortunate that Tula always kept her eyes open, for 
if she had fallen into the Mole-hole! — this story would have 
stopped right here and never had any end; but, as Tula did have 
her eyes open, she escaped the Mole-hole, and went on, and — 
this story will also go on. 

At the 6th bend, Tula saw another Turtle-telegram floating 
near the shore, — then several more. 



“ What shall I do ?” cried Tula ! 

Luckily, at that moment, a Turtle-dove flew over. 

“ Miss Dove,” called Tula, “ where are you flying?” 
“To-Gloo.” 

“How fortunate ! Will you please tell the Lady Too-Ra-Loo 
that I ’m coming? ” 

“Who ’re you?” 

“Tula— just Tula; she will know, and thank you too.” 

The Turtle-dove flew away, crying “Coo! Coo!” and Tula 
plodded on 

At the 7th bend, the Beavers had just finished building a 
dam ; they came ashore, and began to say to each other, “ Who 
is this?” 

Tula only said, “If you want to know who I am, I’ll tell you 
— I ’m Tula,” and went right on. 

As she approached the 8th twist in Brook Brother Twin 


Tula of Turtledom 


158 

Twister, Tula began to slacken her pace, for a wild and ferocious 
creature was singing, or, rather, screeching a horrible song : 

“ Bones and shells ! 

Shells and bones ! 

I ’ve good use 
For all that comes ! 

I gobble — gobble — 

Shells and bones ! 

Feet and claws ! 

Claws and feet ! 

I don’t care much 
What I eat! 

I gobble — gobble — 

Claws and feet ! ” 

For the first time since she started on her journey, little Tula’s 
heart sank, for she knew that she must soon pass the dread of the 
Turtle Folk, — that horrible Commodore Cormorant, of whom 
she had heard. 

“Unless I disguise myself, I shall be suddenly swallowed; my 
fine shell, shut-up house is very little protection against an appe- 
tite that gobbles shells and bones,” she said, with a shudder. 

“ What shall I do ? Ah ! a burdock ! I will make me a burr 
cloak to wear outside my shell ; of course, I cannot tell, but I 
think if he tries to swallow me in my burr cloak — he ’ll choke — 
for quite a spell ! ” 

No sooner said than done. 

Soon, fully burred, back-burred, side-burred, and burred all 
over, Tula (you would never know her!) slowly and safely passed 
the dreaded foe, for the wicked old comorant, altho’ his appetite 


Tula of Turtledom 


1 5 9 

was equal to shells and bones, claws and feet, preferred not to 
gobble burrs as long as he could get anything else to eat ! 

So Tula successfully passed the last danger, crossed the 9th 
bend, and came to the beginning end of the brook, and the home 
of Gloo. 

This was a very strange place. 

At the very point where Brook Brother Twin Twister and 
Brook Sister Twin Twister join in baby babble, there is, among 
the green mossy stones and pebbles, a hole in the earth, in which 
Gloo lies, and out of which Gloo keeps sending up bubbles of 
mirth, and ripples of laughter. 

Some say this is only a spring with a fine flow of water, but 
the Lady Too-Ra-Loo always spoke of it as “Gloo,” and she 
is the only one who has been into and thro’ the home of Gloo. 

Against her will, she had to go, but still I think that she must 
know! 

When Tula arrived at and stood before Gloo, she saw at once, 
precisely what to do. 

A large, smooth tilting-stone, so placed that it divided the two 
little brooks, and was right on Gloo’s doorstep at the same time, 
had been tipped (by Gloo), just enough to pinion beneath it the 
Lady Too-Ra-Loo. 

Seeing Tula, the latter cried, “Save me — quick — at once!” 

Tula replied — “ I will save you — but I must do it in the best 
way, for I have five others also to save at the same time.” 

In one quarter of a moment Tula decided. Putting her back 
to the tilting-stone, and pushing with all her might, over it went, 
into the right side of Gloo, so that the ripples and laughter 
stopped at once on that side, and Brook Brother Twin Twister 
stopped flowing, and at the same time, the Lady Too-Ra-Loo 
was free. 


i6o 


Tula of Turtledom 


PART V. 

Meanwhile, Tot was having a fine time. What he did and 
saw can best be given in Tot’s own words, as he afterwards 
told the story to Tud: 

“When Tula went to Gloo, I had nothing to do. I did that 
for a time, but it was n’t very new, and was n’t any fun when ’t was 
done. Doing nothing may be all right when quite a number are 
doing it together, but, for one alone — it’s — well — I didn’t like 
it ! Somehow * doing nothing,’ makes me feel wrong inside my 
little shell ! 

“As soon as I thought of it, I played ‘tag’ — with myself. I 
tried to run away from myself, and catch myself, — be ‘on the 
goal’ and, ‘it’, at the same time, but it wasn’t any fun. 

“All at once, I remembered I could do something useful and 
that made me glad. When one is all alone, idleness or play 
seem foolish, but work makes one feel so much — better inside 
one’s little shell. 

“ Perhaps you have found that out, yourself, T ud ? 

“ I went to work and repaired the hole in the bridge, so no 
more silly turtles could fall thro’. How? Oh, with some 
small, tough sticks twisted together. 

Then, I pressed leaves, by sitting on them hard, a long while, 
but I am sorry I did that, for they are much prettier unpressed, 
and more useful to the trees, on the trees, than to me, pressed. 

“ Then, I heard a funny sound, and looked around, and saw that 
the river was gone. It went out to sea, I suppose, but it left its bed, 
and there, sitting comfortably deep down in the middle, were 
Tuska Loo Loo and Kalama Zoo Zoo, Sandusky Ky Ky, and 
Timbuc Too Too — too! 

“Then I heard another queer sound. 


Tula of Turtledom 


161 


This was the Fin Flap Flopper Fish gaping ! When the river 
went away, he became very dry, and gaped more and more, till 
he gaped so high, his mouth was stretched from earth to sky, and 
then out walked Mr. Timothy, just as spry and forgetful as ever 
— for if I hadn’t called out “ Hi ! Hi ! ”, he would have gone back 
inside the fish. I saw him try ! 

“Mr. T.,” I cried, “come up — on the bank!” 

“Tot/ he replied, “it’s too steep!” 

“Take the elevator!” 

He took it, and so did Tuska. — and Kalama. — and Sandus 

and Timbuc. 

The elevator? Oh ! yes, I haven’t told you about that. I made 
it ! I bent a sapling that grew near the edge of the bank till the 
tip of it sank to the river-bed, near Mr. T.’s head. He quickly 
grabbed and held on tight ; then I let go ; swish ! up in the air, 
most out of sight, went Mr. T. But when he got up in the air, 
he never stopped to question where, but simply dropped upon the 
bank — close by me. 

“He! Hee!! Dear me!!! Your elevator’s a great success,” said 
Mr. T. to me! 

Then Tus. and Kal. and San. and Tim. each tried the elevator, 
and thought it lots of fun. 

How happy they all were to be rescued, and I was happy too, 
for I had helped rescue them. 

We made a ring, close shell to shell; 

How we did sing ! how we did yell ! 

Some of us danced — and some of us pranced ; 

What we did is hard to tell ; 

In a mad and merry, medley melee — 

We danced pell-mell, and shouted away. 

The Time-Told, Turtledom, Tortoise Yell!!! 


Tula of Turtledom 


162 


Hack- 

a- 


Ki! Yi! Yi! ! 

Bis ! Boom ! Bah ! ! ! 
Hip! Hoo! Hi!! 

Rah! Roo! Rah!!! 
Zip ! Zum ! Zee ! ! 

Bum ! Boo ! Bee ! ! ! 


lack- 


boom- 

a- 

lack- H-U-R-R-A-H ! ! ! ! ! 
After a while, we tired of the T. T. T. T. yell and I made up 
a new and entirely original one, which I think is just as good as 
the old one, but Mr. T. says, “Not quite,” and I suppose he knows. 
Mine sounds like this: — 

Bax-Bix-Bex-a-Lig-a-Mig-a-Nig-a- H ig-a-T ig, - 
Cum-a-Lum-a-Jum-a-Fum-a-Tum-a-Pum-a-Wum-a-W W Wo- 
w-w-w— W O— W-W-W-W 
W - O - W ! ! ! ! 
Dat-gat-lat-zat-ket-jat-yat, 

Dit-j it-vit-y it-dut-tut-lut, 
Sig-i-vig-a-pag-a-vag-i-zig-a-yag-yeg, 
Neg-e-reg-e-seg-e-geg-e-feg-e-teg-e-heg-e-zeg-e-jeg-weg, 
SQKVJSTX!!!* 

Dax 

Lub-zig 


* This word is Turtleish and cannot be translated. It sounds, when shouted, 
like a mixture of laugh, sneeze, and squeal. 


Tula of Turtledom 


163 


Chi-nee-foo 

V ub-sub-hex-pax 

M ut-j ah-j ax-j ox-j ex 

Kax-kex-dow-gow-fow-jow 

Pow-wow-yow-boo-coo-doo-goo 

Hoofoojoolookoonoorootoopoomoozoovoo 

S-R-Q-G-K-P-V-D-S-B-Z-W-T-H-X !!!!!!!!!* 


It’s rather long, but I think it’s strong; just think, Tud, what 
fun it would be, if Turtles only could have colleges, to go to 
college with a yell like that ! 

But I must finish my story; — while we were shouting, out of 
the corner of my eye, I saw the water rising again in the river, 
and knew that Tula had released Gloo — and, presently, we all 
stopped shouting, for there, coming down the river — floating on a 
raft, a tiny raft — with one abow, and one abaft, the better to steady 
the tossing craft, — was Tula, — my Tula, — Our Tula the Great, — 
who saved so many from the hand of fate, sailing down from the 
conquered Gloo (for she made Gloo do, what she planned for him 
to) and bringing the Lady Too-Ra-Loo ! ! ! 

Our little crowd was proud of Tula, as proud as we could be; 
we cheered as loud as our throats allowed, and gave her a “three- 
times-three” ! And Mr. T. stood on the shore and cheered till he 
could cheer no more, and then said he: “This carries me back 
to the days of yore — when I went daft o’er the foot-ball score, and 
used to cheer till my throat was sore; if Tula had lived way back 
in the forties, she would have found my Tiddledum Tortoise ! ” 

Then Tula landed, looked around, and said : “I’m glad you 
are all safe and sound; Tot — how you have grown! Isn’t it 
about time we started for home? I will be your leader.” 


* This word is Turtleish and cannot be translated. It sounds, when shouted, 
like a mixture of laugh, sneeze, and squeal. 


Tula of Turtledom 


1 64 

“Be our General” we all cried! 

“Very well,” said Tula, “I will — and Tot shall be Major, 
Major Tot — form the troops in line. 

“ Attention — Company I 

Shoulder Shells ! 

Right Face! 

Forward ! 

March!!!” 

(This is the end of Tot’s tale, told to Tud, but “The End ” can 
not be written until after the journey home is finished, the great 
battle won, and, until we hear, at least, about the Fresh Water 
Flow Feast; also, how Tud came, in a mud blanket, to the Bud 
Banquet.) 

PART VI. 

While the army is marching homeward, we will go back for a 
while to the Juniper Tree, and listen to a conversation between 
Mr. and Mrs. Hookbeak Balder. 

Mrs. B. is sitting upon the nest as Mr. B. returns from a fishing 
expedition, with a fine fat bass. 

Mr. B. “Where are the children ?” 

Mrs. B. “They’re all right.” 

Mr. B. “But where are they?” 

Mrs. B. “ Those two turtles you brought home were altogether 
too hard for either Beaky, or Pecky, or Becky, or even Baldy Jr. 
For my part, I can’t see why you should bring home such hard- 
shell food ” 

Mr. B. “But where are the children?” 

Mrs. B. “I’m telling you as fast as I can; those two turtles 
you brought home ” 

Mr. B. “Never mind the turtles, — where are the CHILD- 
REN? it r 


Tula of Turtledom 


165 


Mrs. B. “If you’ll only listen to me — those turtles ” 

I am not sure how long this conversation wouM have gone on, 
but, at that moment, a squeaky voice from below called out, 
“Here we are, Pa — on the fifth branch down; the turtles pushed 
us out of bed ; we fell upon this limb ; we don’t know what to do 
next, and I ’m hungry ! ” 

Then another voice, — “I’m hungry, too — we’re all hungry.” 
But Mr. Hookbeak Balder was so astonished at what he heard, 
— he fairly choked with rage! “The idea,” he thought to him- 
self, — “of turtles — mere turtles — mere w^-turtles, daring to push 
my noble children from their home ! I shall punish this insult 
severely ! ” 

Then, rising into the air to a tremendous height. 

And forgetfully dropping the bass in his flight, — 

Wider and wider he circles about — 

On the earth beneath keeping sharp look-out — 

Till, — all at once,— on the plain below, — 

A little army begins to show, — 

Moving at a pace so very slow, — 

It hardly seems at all to go ; 

But Hookbeak Balder’s sight is keen ! 

“There are the miscreants, now, I ween,” 

He mutters in his cruel beak; 

And then he gives an awful scream, 

And through the air drops like a streak ! 

Tula — marching on ahead, — had had her head high all the time, 
with her eye on the sky. She saw Hookbeak Balder’s circling 
fly, — she saw him . woop, — in time to cry — “Major Tot, corral 
the troops in Woodchuck Hall ; I’ 11 take my stand at this fortified 
gate, — the foe to face ! Come on ! I wait ! ! ” 

Balder, as he swoops, seeing that all the turtles have disappeared 


i66 


Tula of Turtledom 


but one, determines to wreak his vengeance on that one; so, 
beating the air with his mighty wings, and clacking his beak with 
a whacking snap, he surges toward Tula and snatches at her with 
his ugly talons. 

But Tula — wisely wedging herself beneath the bending branch 
of the Pitch Pine bush which forms the gate of Woodchuck 
Castle, — waxes her hands with bayberry wax; and makes some 
balls of sticky pitch, which she pitches at the approaching foe I 

Balder claws at Tula, but gets the pitch on his claws; he gives 
a scream all off the pitch, but cannot get the pitch all off his claws ! 

Then, as Tula continues to pitch pitch, and he continues to 
scream, he gets more and mere pitch on his claws, and gets more 
and more off pitch. 

Balder is furious with rage; he has fought victorious battles 
with animals twenty times Tula’s size, and not an enemy has ever 
dared pitch pitch at him before ! 

Horrible stuff! It won’t come off! He claws one claw with 
the other claw, — and, — horrors ! — now the two are stuck together ; 
and tho’ he madly works and jerks, and shakes and pulls, and 
twists and twirks, — they will not come apart. 

Says he to himself— 1 “ With my feet stuck together, I must be a 
pretty sight.” Says he to Tula — “You needn’t think to stop me 
— I’ve got a beak — to bite!” 

He thought to make her tremble, and fill her soul with fright, 
but Tula’s soul was like her shell, — staunch, solid, water-tight, — 
and fear ne’er got inside her shell in any kind of plight. 

She quickly made a leafy tube and filled it with pine pollen, — 
and when the huge beak struck at her, she blew a pouf! paff ! puff! 
— into Balder’s nose and eyes, which stung him into squalling, — 
and, sneezing “ Chow-ah-chow-ah-chow,” he went off in a huff! 


Tula of Turtledom 


167 


Then Tot stuck out his head and called, — “I think he’s got 
enough ! ” 

“I think,” said Tula, “he’ll come back — for one more good 
rebuff!” Tula was right. 

Balder, as soon as he recovered from his surprise, returned, — if 
possible, — even more angry than before. With smarting eyes and 
sneezing beak, and pitch-stuck claws, he rises in all the majesty of 
his strength and beats at Tula with his powerful wings. 

Tula, — having both eyes open, — as usual, — keeps well under the 
bough, out of reach of the force of the blow, and watches her 
chance ; when the right wing swings close to her head — snip ! — 
she clips a nip from the tip ! 

Balder is too angry to notice a little thing like that, — perhaps 
he thinks it does not matter — but, striking again and again with 
his great wings, he tries in vain to get at her. 

Each time, Tula takes a nip, and soon, she has quite a pile of 
snipped clippings. 

After a time. Balder finds himself growing a little tired in his 
right wing; he can not understand it at all, — but Tula can! 

He rages and rushes at her. She snips a feather. 

He cruelly charges at her. She clips another. 

He storms and scolds at her. She nips a tip. 

He buffs and cuffs at her. She strips a slip. 

And so on and so forth. 


And — at last ! — wonder of wonders ! — the Great Hookbeak Bal- 
der — King of the Air — Terror of the Plains — and Hero of a Hun- 
dred Victorious Fights — is conquered — by 1-i-t-t-l-e T U LA!!! 

As constant dropping wears away the stone, so constant snipping 
tears away the wing ! Balder found he had become so wobbly 
in his flight, that, if he longer stayed, his little foe to fight, and 


i68 


Tula of Turtledom 


longer gave to her a chance his wing to bite, he soon would lose 
all semblance to a bird of might. 

So, — with claws pitch-stuck; yes, pollen-blinded; — with one 
wing looking like a moth-eaten feather duster ; — sneezing, and sad- 
der if not wiser ; Balder slowly and painfully flobbled* to his nest. 

What Mrs. Balder said to him, can easily be guessed ! 

PART VII. 

“ Home at last ! There are the dear old cat-tails nodding their 
heads, and here is the mere ! Oh ! hear the water rushes rustle, 
and see the tassel grasses tussle! 

“It’s good to be home again,” cried Tot. 

The Lady Too Ra Loo was already lifting the silt quilt under 
which she had left her babies. “Oh! look!” she cries, “how 
my darlings have grown ! ’ ’ 

Tuska Loo Loo and Kalama Zoo Zoo and Sandusky Ky Ky 
and Timbuc Too Too, too, were already on the bank for a dive 
and a swim. 

Said Mr. Timothy Tortoise, “This is where the exact spot is, 
that brother and I, way back in the forties, shed our shells for a 
swim, — and either the shells or we got mixed, for when we 
dressed and got all fixed, he got on my shell, and I got his ! ” 

“In that case,” remarked Tot, “I don’t see how you know 
whether you are yourself or your brother.” 

“Oh, dear, dear me!” exclaimed Mr. Timothy, “perhaps I’m 
lost after all, and it ’s my brother, instead of me, here now ! I 
wish I really knew!” 

“Ask Tula,” advised Tot. 

“I will, — where is she?” 

But no one had seen Tula since the moment of arrival; after 
leading all successfully home, she had suddenly disappeared. 


Flobbled. i. e. Flew, and wobbled in flight. 


Tula of Turtledom 169 

They wakened Tud, fast asleep in the mud, but he hadn’t 
seen Tula. 

“Friends,” said Tot, addressing the lot, “if ’twas any one 
else, we would worry — but since ’tis Tula, worry we’ll not; 
she’ll surely be home in a hurry. 

“I propose 
That we prepare 
A banquet 
In her honor. 

I suppose 
That royal fare 
We’d best confer 
Upon her. 

I advise 
A bud affair. 

In finest style, 

Spread in a cosy corner; 

I surmise 

That Tula ’ll stare. 

For quite awhile, 

When first it bursts upon her ! ” 

This speech brought much applause, and all the Turtles, little 
and big, set to work to prepare the banquet. 

The table was a vegea-table, decorated with greens from the 
evergreens, and with silver fringe from the fringe tree. For 
chairs, there were boxes from the box-bushes. (They didn’t 
have to do any wood-buying, for there was plenty of wood-bine.) 

The plates were plain plane leaves ; the spruce looking dishes, of 
spruce ; the cups, buttercups ; the pitchers from the pitcher-plant. 


170 


Tula of Turtledom 


Of course, they had milk from the milk-weed, and honey from 
the honey-suckle, — and cucumbers from the cucumber tree. 

But here is the menu, which was painted on shellum, in moist 
muds. 


BUD BAN QJJ E T 

In Honor Of 

TULA! 

TURTLEDOM TULY TURTLEFIRST 


BE-TULA BUDS ON BITS OF BIRCH BARK 
BUD BOUILLON BUD BISQUE 


BOILED BASS-(WOOD) — SAUCE OF SWEET PEPPER — BUSH BUDS 
PLANKED SHAD-(BUSH) — MIXED PRICKELS 

BAKED BUCK-(tHORn) BOILED CRANE’s-(bILl) 

ROAST RUSH POTTED LARK-(SPUR) 

ROAST RIBS OF REED 


MUSHED POPPY HUSHED HOP 

SPLICED CUCUMBERS YEW STEW 

FRITTELARIA FRITTERS — VINE SAUCE 


SEDGE EDGE SALAD 


CONE BREAD BUD BUNS BUTTERNUT BUTTER 

BUD BISQUIT BUD BANNOCKS BUTTERCUP BUTTER 


HIP HIP PUDDING WITH HAW HAW SAUCE 
BUCKEYE PIE RED BUD DUFF MARSH MUSH 

HOP HAPPLE SAUCE BEACH ICE CREAM 

PLANE CAKES SNOW-DROP CAKES 


MOCK ORANGES BAR AND BAY-BERRIES 

honey-(suckle) candy-(tuft) 

SWEET FLAG ROOT 

FLEUR-DE-LIS TEA MILK-(WEED) 

AFTER DINNER HOPPEE 

Tot got the Lady Too Ra Loo to paint the Menu, which she 
was very glad to do, for her babies had already left their silt quilt, 
and were playing games. 


Tala of Turtledom 


171 

Mud-slipping was great fun for little Tittle Too Ra Loo, and 
for Tottle Too Ra Loo, and for Topple Too Ra Loo; ’twas just 
what they liked best to do. To climb the bank, all muddy and 
dank, — then slip and slide to the foaming tide, and souse-ker-plosh 
into the creek a-swash ; and come up again, all spink and spank. 

Snud, Smug, and Snug played “Paddle” in the middle mud- 
puddle. 

Ee and Oo went away to play. 

“Let’s sky-look,” cried Ee ! 

“’Et’s,” echoed Oo. 

Each stretched his little neck, and bent back his little head, 
until he could view the deep, far blue ! 

“ I b’lieve the far away is blue, — I do,” cried Ee. 

“I b’lieve so too,” echoed Oo. 

Meanwhile, the Lady Too Ra Loo, with beautiful moist muds, 
has finished the bill of fare, and Tot, with Tuska, Kalama, San- 
dus, and Timbuc, have everything else prepared. 

Mr. Timothy admired the table very much. “ Shall we begin? ” 
he inquired of Tot. “I like to eat buds when they are hot.” 

“I think not,” exclaimed Tot; “perhaps you’ve heard of the 
book called ‘Turtle Taboo, or What 720/ to Do’; it distinctly says 
in that, — ‘A feast in honor of any Turtle, should not be eaten, 
unless that Turtle is present’; we’ll wait for Tula.” 

« Dear me ! how out of sympathy Tot is, with poor old hungry, 
Timothy Tortoise !” 

Even as Mr. Timothy said these words to himself, Tula 

appeared. 

All cheered ! 

Three strange Turtles followed Tula. The latter approached 
Mr. Timothy and said — 

“ Mr. Timothy Tortoise, let me introduce you to your brother. 


172 


Tula of Turtledom 


Professor Tiddledum Tortoise, famous for his book on ‘Bog- 
ology.’ ” 

The two old Turtles tottled toward each other. 

Tiddledum — “ Brother ! ” 

Timothy — “ Brother ! ! ” 

“Mr. Timothy,” cries Tula, “behold your two nieces, — Tar- 
quinia and Lavina Sofinia Virginia.” 

You may be sure Mr. Timothy was as happy as could be, and 
so were all the others, as one could plainly see ; but as all took 
their places at the banquet table, said Mr. Timothy, “ Dear me, 
Tula, you are a general able; for the life of me, I cannot see, how 
you could find my brother and bring him back to me ! ” 

“Tell us all about it,” cried Tot ! 

“A speech!” “A speech!!!” 

Said Tula, — “I have a few words to say, but 720/ before dinner; 
it’s been three months since breakfast, and I think I deserve a 
bud! But where’s Tud? — still asleep in the mud? Tot, will you 
please call him to dinner ? — What does he say — has n’t any new 
clothes? Oh! well, tell him to come in his old mud duds!” 

So Tud came to the Bud Banquet, in his mud duds, but I am 
happy to state, — he also wore his very best manners. 

In the midst of the feast, Prof. Tiddledum noticed, 
his brother seemed somewhat blue; 

He said, “Brother Timothy, you don’t seem to act, 
quite as pleased as you ought to do ; 

Something is wrong, — now, what is the matter, 

and what in the world is troubling you ! ” 

“This,” said Mr. Timothy Tortoise, “I really wish I knew — 
whether I am really I, or whether I am you.” 

Professor Tiddledum smiled awhile, 

and then replied in genial style, — 


Tula of Turtledom 


*73 


“ Dearest brother, I infer, that you refer 

to our transfer of shell ? 

’T was in September, — I remember 

the circumstances well ; 

But I feel sure that I am I, — 

feel sure that you are you — 

For we are not the shells we wear, 

but what we say, and do ; 

For sixty years and more, I’ve known, 

and still believe it true. 

That I am, what I am inside, and 

not the shell I took from you.” 

“Brother Tiddledum,” said Mr. Timothy, — 
tasting stew of yew — 

“Your argument sounds very good; 

I hope that you are you ; 

But I should like to satisfy 

myself, — as well as you ; 

There ’s one thing, if you ’re willing, 

that I should like to do. 

When we were small, and much alike, 

our friends made much ado. 

About how hard it was to tell 

the difference ’ twixt us two ; 

So, they cut my initials on my shell, — 

and then cut yours on you. 

Tot — will you take a look?” 

“Certainly,” exclaimed Tot, who jumped up on the spot, and 
examined the back of each. “I find T. T. on your back, Mr. 
Timothy, — I find T. T. on your brother’s.” 

“O ! thank you, Tot,” cried Mr. Timothy, — 


174 


Tula of Turtledom 


“ Dear brother, your words are true, — 

For now it’s proved that I am I, — 

and proved that you are you ! ” 

Mr. Timothy, being satisfied, all were happy ; there was really 
only one little sorrow, and Tula thought of that. “Dear little 
Toddles,” she exclaimed, “how I wish he was here!” 

“Here he comes,” cried Tot. And sure enough, it was 
Toddles ! 

“Toddles,” said Tula, “you were very naughty to toddle away 
— have you any excuse to make?” 

“Well,” said Toddles lazily, — “there was something — inside my 
shell — that kept saying — ‘Toddle away. Toddles’ — so — I toddled 
away; — but — after a time — when far I did roam — something — 
inside my shell — kept saying — ‘Toddle for home, Toddles’ — so — 
I toddled — for home.” 

“Cousin Tot,” said Lavinia Sofinia Virginia, “I hear you pre- 
pared this fine Bud Banquet ? These Bud Buns are delicious ! 
What is the best way to make bread rise?” 

“Well,” said Tot, “if there is a good wind blowing, I should 
advise tying it to the tail of a kite.” 

While they were feasting, Fresh Water Flow went flowing by, 
and stopped to say, — “ Kind friends — would you like to have me 
flow for you, today?” 

And Tula said, — “Dear Fresh Water Flow, this feast is given 
in my honor, but I shall esteem it the greatest honor to have 
Fresh Water Flow at my feast.” 

This is how the Bud Banquet to Tula became a Fresh Water 
Flow Feast. 

The Fleur-de-Lis tea is sipped, the feast is over. There are 
cries of “A speech!” “A speech!” “Tula! Tula!!!” “We’ll 
hear from Tula ! ” 


Tula of Turtledom 


1 75 


Tula is slightly embarrassed. “What shall I talk about? You 

all know I ’m more used to doing things than making speeches.” 

“Tell us how you do great deeds.” “Tell us what to do.” 

“ We want to learn” 

Tula smiled a gentle smile of kindness at them all, 

Then wisely said ; “ I do my best, altho’ I only crawl ; 

I ’ve found a best way for proceeding in all cases, — 

And places ; 

First, — whatever you set out to do, — stick to it — 

And do it ! 

But — keep a sharp lookout about, or — 

You’ll rue it! 

Second, — when you come to a hard place. 

Keep up your pace; 

Don’t try to go over, or under, — but go thro’ it; you can do it, — 
If you stick to it ! 

Third, — what you start out to find. 

Is either in front, — sidewise, or behind, 

If you are faithful, you ’ll surely find ; 

But buff, or rebuff, you must n’t mind. 

Fourth, — if anything is worth doing — you can do it. 

By pluck, — and grit, — and sticking to it ! 

A ready wit, and willing jog. 

May help the whole world turn a cog.” 

(Cheers and much applause.) 


What is this ? 

A cloud of mist — 
Arising, 

Shuts from sight 


176 


Tula of Turtledom 


The little folks 
Among their jokes; — 
Good night. 

My little T urtle dears ; 

Good night ! 

I leave you to your 
Hopes and fears. 

Dear Tula,— just — 

A — word — to — you ; — 
I know your little 
Heart is true; 
That’s why, whate’er 
You say and do 
Is right! 


By courtesy of the Youth's Companion , the follow- 
ing stories have been included in this volume: 
The Spi Spiders, The Toads of Hoppiti-High, Nin- 
ny, Nanny, and Natty, and Spink Hoppi. The 
publishers are also indebted to The Children's 
Magazine for permission to include The Bees of 
Bumbleton, The Ants of Antic, Lulia and Lelia 
Lobster, Barney Barnacle, Cheerful Chippie and 
Happy Chappy, The Swans, Harry and Carry 
Crab, and The Bugs of Bugly ; also to the New 
Idea Woman’s Magazine for the use of The Frogs 
o’Poolo. 





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&0V 22 1909 






















